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raekellie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
stargazer3845's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a đśď¸ one! At least twice the number of sexy scenes as I'm used to, and it's a "one-night-to-forever" trope (loosely - as well as age gap) so it starts off with a bang...
This one was probably a little too tense for me at this point in my life: unlike most sapphic romances I've read, this one has people making a lot of unwise decisions. (Not a spoiler because it's literally in the title.) But things do get resolved, as you would hope. That said, it was definitely the least formulaic of the romances I've read so far (I think this is #5 for me), which some readers might really appreciate.
I got very invested in the characters and really enjoyed the book, even if it made me anxious until I finished it. đ
This one was probably a little too tense for me at this point in my life: unlike most sapphic romances I've read, this one has people making a lot of unwise decisions. (Not a spoiler because it's literally in the title.) But things do get resolved, as you would hope. That said, it was definitely the least formulaic of the romances I've read so far (I think this is #5 for me), which some readers might really appreciate.
I got very invested in the characters and really enjoyed the book, even if it made me anxious until I finished it. đ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Biphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Abandonment
batbaby's review against another edition
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
God I was stressed for most of this book, turns out I donât love reading about affairs, I was stressed with how risky they were being, I was stressed about how much they mentioned the daughter and the disregard for said daughter. How often it felt incest adjacent, why you getting off on the idea of your daughter catching you bro. The smut was slightly inconsistent in quality and with cringey words - the author chose some really awful words to describe their junk. Also minor smut spoiler maybe Iâm the anomaly but how was it four months into sleeping together in the summer and theyâd never used a strap but she had it in the bed side table?? The pacing was a little all over the place and the characters passions were very surface level, we found out about a passion project of a character after they were well into it. And a good chunk of the book I couldnât wait till the book was over, just so I didnât have to feel so tense all the time. All these negatives aside I did read and enjoy the book overall and the silly cheesy ending made me grin on the bus. I also enjoyed borrowing a book from a friend and having a shared experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
miayukino's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Racism
mssmartian's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
As this was an audio book, I quite liked the actresses, and the novel itself had some funny moments and endearing scenarios, however I unfortunately did not much like the story itself.
I believe if the book had been entirely from Cassieâs POV, my rating would not be as low, but it was split with Erin, the other mc.
I whole-heartedly adore flawed characters, but I also believe if the audience is expected to sympathize w/them in some capacity, they should at least have a certain charm.
Cassieâs mistakes and motivations are conveyed well enough and Iâd honestly have liked to read a more introspective piece on her life and future.
Erin kept staying in her cyclical thoughts for near the entirety of the book, and in the first half treated Cassie so rudely, I found it so weird that she could still harbor lust for the woman. To be fair, Iâm asexual, and havenât had to deal w/arousal butterflies (whatev theyâre called), but I have read plenty of romance before; spicy AND even just fluff. This story just didnât feel right in that aspect.
I understand that Erinâs character growth was happening through therapy, but there wasnât enough of that for myself, the reader. Her chapters honestly dragged with her having lust, then jumping straight to guilt. It felt like nothing could move the plot forward until we reached a Cassie chapter.
It was honestly a whiplash for Erin to demean Cassie and accuse her of mommy issues in one chapter, then Erin basically being like, âoh, Cassieâs in the shower- but I just have to apologize!â Sleazy. Not sexy whatsoever.
I partially blame myself for having certain expectations about how light-hearted the book would be, but so many non-spoilery reviews I saw and heard were saying how cute and sexy this story was. I personally couldnât get over how much the first half of the book very much was not so.
Miscommunication is a trope I find fun and can be used in interesting ways, but the LACK of communication was just personally frustrating.
I also believe that because I found Erin to be so frustrating, that I could not find the sex scenes, well, sexy.
I am rating this book 2 stars purely for Cassie, and because while I didnât personally enjoy the story, I found myself appreciating how some aspects of it were written.
I believe if the book had been entirely from Cassieâs POV, my rating would not be as low, but it was split with Erin, the other mc.
I whole-heartedly adore flawed characters, but I also believe if the audience is expected to sympathize w/them in some capacity, they should at least have a certain charm.
Cassieâs mistakes and motivations are conveyed well enough and Iâd honestly have liked to read a more introspective piece on her life and future.
Erin kept staying in her cyclical thoughts for near the entirety of the book, and in the first half treated Cassie so rudely, I found it so weird that she could still harbor lust for the woman. To be fair, Iâm asexual, and havenât had to deal w/arousal butterflies (whatev theyâre called), but I have read plenty of romance before; spicy AND even just fluff. This story just didnât feel right in that aspect.
It was honestly a whiplash for Erin to demean Cassie and accuse her of mommy issues in one chapter, then Erin basically being like, âoh, Cassieâs in the shower- but I just have to apologize!â Sleazy. Not sexy whatsoever.
I partially blame myself for having certain expectations about how light-hearted the book would be, but so many non-spoilery reviews I saw and heard were saying how cute and sexy this story was. I personally couldnât get over how much the first half of the book very much was not so.
Miscommunication is a trope I find fun and can be used in interesting ways, but the LACK of communication was just personally frustrating.
I also believe that because I found Erin to be so frustrating, that I could not find the sex scenes, well, sexy.
I am rating this book 2 stars purely for Cassie, and because while I didnât personally enjoy the story, I found myself appreciating how some aspects of it were written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lizziaha's review against another edition
3.75
Fun romance but I was stressed about them getting found out the whole time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny and Death of parent
xabbeylongx's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoilers Ahead:
This book was honestly not what I expected at all.
We follow Cassie as sheâs at a bar, getting drunk because itâs âFamily Weekendâ and her family doesnât come to visit, so sheâs out of town - out of sight, out of mind. She spots an older woman in the bar called Erin, and sheâs insanely attracted to her. She buys her a drink, they get to talking, and it ends up being a good time in the back of a car, if you know what I mean. She finds out that Erin is actually visiting her child for the weekend, so they agree to never see each other again.
The next morning, one of her best friends, Parker, asks her to go to breakfast with her and her mum, because ages ago her mum got divorced and sheâs always been a âDaddyâs Girlâ and she sort of blames her mum for the divorce and itâs a bit weird, so Cassie agrees to go to help keep things from being awkward.
And youâll never guess who turns up to breakfast that very morning?
Lo and behold, itâs Erin!
Cassie is in her element, but Erin is terrified; she canât let anyone know that she slept with someone a lot younger than her, especially if that person happens to be her daughterâs best friend! She vows that there cannot be anything more to happen to them.
But every time they get together, they end up doing stuff together. They physically cannot keep their hands off of each other. At Parkerâs acapella concert, when Cassie goes to live with them over the holidays, they keep saying their cannot be more to their relationship, but they keep on going back to each other.
Cassie gets into her dream college, and has to navigate through these emotions by herself, as Parker refuses to talk to her and Acacia, their mutual best friend, is being weird with her. She finds friendship in Erin, and they FaceTime and make dinner together, and Cassie starts to see her as someone she wants to talk to all the time. Still, they believe there is just a physical attraction.
When they are walked in on, Erinâs sexist ex-husband Adam, and Parker follows along also, Erin and Cassie are shocked. Cassie gives them some space, and Erin finds out that Parker has known all along. She was angry at first, then saw how happy they made each other. Cassie, however, only just recognises that she has feelings for Erin. Eventually they make up, and it ends with them getting married!
Honestly, this story is incessantly long for the actual content. It could have been cut down a lot, lot more, and it would still be a good story, maybe even better. It felt like the ending happened an hour before the story actually ended, so it felt like it was dragging a lot. Iâm also not a massive fan of relationships which are grown solely from sex, which I think this relationship was, but thatâs just a personal preference.
Erin is my biggest enemy. I whole-heartedly believe that she is one of the biggest assholes that Iâve ever read about. How is Cassie supposed to keep up?? You want her to not kiss you, but then you tell her to kiss you, and then youâre so fucking mean to her? Some of the stuff she said was disgusting. Especially considering sheâs a lot older, so she should know better. A lot, lot better. Cassie was so much more mature in this whole situation, and thatâs saying something.
And donât even get me started on Parker! I think sheâs so childish, the way she reacted to their relationship was awful. I get it completely, youâve found out your best friend and your mum are together, itâs a very weird situation indeed, but how could you do that? Going completely silent on Cassie, and her mum, also? Her mum, who she has blamed for the divorce since it happened, and who always does everything for her? Instead of being nasty, Parker should have said that sheâs taking some time for herself, communicated that she needed space, instead of just ghosting and making her feel so alone. I think Iâm a bit biased though, as Iâve had this happened to me, and it makes everything so confusing. I really like the opening though. When Cassie is describing how her and Parker met, dating the same guy. It made Parker out to be the villain before she actually became the villain. In the end, though. I totally despise Erin and Parker, and Adam to be fair, just that entire family.
I did like how many characters in this novel was queer, and I like the open and honest - disregarding Cassie - communication about sexuality between Parker and Erin. The grouping up of the queer kids, the slow development of their relationship (not sexually, but emotionally) and the sexy scenes were all done really well, I think. It was a good book, but there were a lot of things that could be improved, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment
throwback682's review against another edition
1) the creepy premise
2) the fact that I felt like we were reaching the climax and should see some resolution soon, and then noticed I was only 1/3 of the way through the book, and couldnât imagine what the fuck could possibly fill that many more hours
3) Erin is so toxic, I couldnât deal with it anymore
2) the fact that I felt like we were reaching the climax and should see some resolution soon, and then noticed I was only 1/3 of the way through the book, and couldnât imagine what the fuck could possibly fill that many more hours
3) Erin is so toxic, I couldnât deal with it anymore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Biphobia and Sexism
I didnât tag adult/minor relationship because, yes, Cassie is legally an adult. However, Erin makes it very clear that she doesnât think of her that way⌠and then keeps sleeping with her. Eww.grace_b_3's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Look, I knew this was an age-gap romance going into it, but I still really hated that element. Since I hated the central romance, I hated the book. I honestly only powered through to be able to say I've read all of Wilsner's books. Having now read all of Wilsner's books, I can say that they definitely have a thing for age gaps and power imbalances. The central romantic dynamic sucked because it felt very infantizing with Erin treating Cassie like Parker, taking care when sick, etc. Also, they only seemed to have sexual chemistry, but otherwise what did they have in common? What does a 38-year-old have in common with a college student? Overall, I just wasn't buying this romance.
I'd recommend this if you like Ashley Herring Blake's writing style and age gaps.
I'd recommend this if you like Ashley Herring Blake's writing style and age gaps.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content