A sexy and empowering romance.
A college senior sleeps with an older woman she meets at a bar only to learn the next morning that the woman is her new friend’s mom.
When Cassie Klein, a future aerospace engineer, and Erin Bennett, a doctor and mother of a freshman, hook up, it was meant to just be a hot one-night fling between strangers. Erin, in town for Family Weekend, didn’t even know Cassie was a student, let alone the new best friend of her daughter, Parker. But when Parker invites them both to breakfast the next morning, they each learn who the other is and agree that Parker can never find out what happened. Still, the two can’t keep their hands off each other, and what starts as a series of stolen physical moments turns into a genuine connection. They both try to deny the very real feelings developing, but eventually they have to admit the truth not just to the other people in their lives, but to themselves and each other. Wilsner’s second Sapphic romance is the opposite of their slow-burn debut, Something To Talk About (2020): The heat is turned high in numerous spicy scenes. While their physical chemistry is never lacking, Cassie and Erin's romantic journey takes them toward emotional connection as they fall in love despite their worry about other people's judgment, and they decide to pursue what makes them happy. Although the pacing is uneven—some parts of the book lag while some actions or emotions feel too abrupt—strong character development enables readers to understand that Cassie and Erin fall for each other and fit well together despite the taboo nature of their relationship.
A sexy and empowering romance.Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-2508-4100-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.
A blossoming romance infringes on a successful businesswoman's professional aspirations, making her reevaluate her priorities.
At an exclusive party, talent manager Hendrix Barry has an instant connection with billionaire tech mogul Maverick Bell. When he learns that she’s navigating her mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis, he relates to what she’s going through, having had similar experiences with his grandfather. Maverick makes Hendrix feel seen and understood like no one else, but he’s the recent ex-boyfriend of a woman Hendrix is going into business with as she works toward her goal of executive producing a television show. She tries to set boundaries that would keep him as a friend despite their obvious mutual attraction, but when he expresses interest in her venture capital fund focusing on Black women–led businesses, it leads to spending more time together, and the lines of friendship, business, and pleasure become tangled and blurred. Ryan excels at crafting thoughtful, mature characters who have to manage complicated situations with care and grace. Maverick’s dogged pursuit of Hendrix and the delicious ways he woos her using his wealth and persistence frame him as a determined, headstrong hero. Paired with a weaker heroine, he could have been overbearing, but Hendrix is his perfect match, equally as strong-willed and tenacious. They bring out each other’s softer, more vulnerable sides as well, and both have compassionate hearts. The spicy romance is the core of this satisfying story, but the novel doesn’t shy away from—and is made richer for the inclusion of—hardships like caring for an aging parent and confronting racism in the world of business. The tale also highlights the importance of community and the value of supportive, platonic love through the wonderful cast of side characters.
This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781538706855
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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