Mistakes Were Made

May 1, 2022

In Wilsner's (Something To Talk About) second queer romance, college senior Cassie Klein is avoiding her school's family weekend by drinking alone in a local bar. Alone, that is, until she spots an incredibly attractive older woman, Erin Bennett, who is also drinking by herself. They're soon drinking together, then having sex in Erin's car. Regretfully, Cassie forgets to get Erin's number. With nothing but time to kill over the weekend, she agrees to go to breakfast with her bestie Parker and Parker's mom. Mediating a tense family meal is worth the free waffles. However, it seems Cassie has already met Parker's mom: Erin. And Cassie can't resist flirting a bit. Flirting turns into secretly making out, which turns into calling, and eventually Cassie and Erin are in a relationship. A very secret relationship that Parker can never find out about. VERDICT Wilsner's steamy, fast-paced secret-lovers contemporary romance features fully realized queer protagonists and secondary characters. Told from Erin's and Cassie's perspectives, it gives readers a window into their relationship, in and out of the bedroom. It's not a romantic comedy, but definitely has humor, as well as great dialogue and hot sex scenes. Recommended for general purchase.--Heather Miller Cover

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August 1, 2022
Wilsner (Something to Talk About) puts a queer spin on the concept of the MILF in this hilarious, high-heat rom-com. College senior and aspiring aerospace engineer Cassie, 21, picks up medical doctor Erin, 38, at a bar. After parting ways, both women are shocked when they’re reunited at breakfast by Parker, Erin’s daughter and Cassie’s freshman friend. The whole affair should end there, but things heat up further over winter break when Cassie goes to stay with Parker, putting her and Erin under the same roof—and unable to resist temptation. Though they both feel crushing guilt about sneaking around behind Parker’s back and harbor reservations about entering a relationship, they struggle to keep their hands off each other. To make the dynamic work, Wilsner has to sell the off-the-charts chemistry—and succeeds in spades, producing some toe-curling sex scenes. The emotional slow-burn runs perhaps a bit too far behind the sexual fast-burn, but the women’s baggage is fleshed out just enough that, while their emotional constipation remains frustrating, it is at least believable. It feels inevitable that their lies will blow up in their faces, but instead Wilsner takes an unexpected route that may leave some readers slightly unsatisfied. Still, by coupling raunchy humor and genuine connection, Wilsner’s sophomore outing offers plenty to love.

August 1, 2022
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.

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