3.5 stars.

I didn’t realize that this was part of the series The Roommate started, but I was really happy that it was. I definitely don’t think you’d need to read in order, because things from book 1 were explained well, but it was fun to see so much of Josh and Clara in book 2.

This was a love story between a former porn star and a rabbi, and there’s not much else to say. Either that makes you want to read it, or it makes you want to never think of it again. Either way you’re valid tbh

It totally delivered and then some. Our main characters fell in love, for real. There were big discussions about self-worth, overcoming trauma, religion, opening yourself up to be loved... just a lot of important talks that were all well done.

Both main characters were Jewish, but they practiced at different levels. Neither of them were judgmental of the others’ ways of practicing religion. It felt like a really safe place to land in that aspect. Same with the seminars Naomi gave, dating seminars to get some hype for Ethan’s synagogue. They were filled with plenty of sound advice and were very welcoming.

Genuinely, straight up, I expected more sex. I guess someone as open sexually as Naomi has to meet a freakin’ rabbi in the middle. Especially when, a little surprisingly, Naomi was actually the one who wasn’t ready to have sex yet, afraid of liking Ethan too much I guess.

The epilogue also kinda sucked, just way corny compared to the depth level of the rest of the book.

Overall, though, this was fun and sweet, and honestly probably could have a wide range of people enjoying it if they’re willing to give it a chance.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and thought it was really an improvement on the first book in the series! The Intimacy Experiment follows Naomi, a porn star turned sex educator who now has an advanced degree and wants to teach, but no one will take her seriously. That is, until she meets Ethan, a young, attractive rabbi trying to attract a younger crowd to his slowly dying synagogue. And he wants to hire Naomi to teach a seminar on modern intimacy. But Naomi has spent years feeling rejection from her Jewish heritage and is terrified by the thought of stepping foot inside a synagogue.

This blend of characters and themes really worked for me. We have a prickly heroine learning how to be vulnerable and a nerdy, sweet, cinnamon roll of a hero who sees past her facade. All of which is like catnip for me. But I also loved the way this explores a more modern take on religion, suggesting a vision of what faith communities might be if they are able to become inclusive and loving. Not to mention really getting into the difference between sex and intimacy, not in a shaming way, but in a way that recognizes a physical relationship has different stakes when love and vulnerability are involved.

I thought the slow burn relationship between Naomi and Ethan was really beautiful and this book has a lot to say about modern relationships. Occasionally it does get a bit soapboxy and longwinded, using speeches and seminars as a way of delivering mini-essays. Honestly I didn't mind it all that much because I was into what she was trying to get across, but I could see that being more of a negative for some readers. Overall though, I had a great time with this and love the fresh take on romance we're getting from this author. I received an advance copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved the Intimacy Experiment so much more than the roommate! The characters are loveable, relatable and the two make for a steamy pair. Rosie Danan's sex-positive books make me happy and we need more of it! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Her plots are so unique and I love the way they are written.

I absolutely adored this book! The second installment in The Roommate Series was as satisfying as the first.

Naomi is a beautiful and successful businesswoman with an ice-queen facade. Ethan is a young rabbi who is idealistic as he is handsome. When they meet at a professional course, sparks fly between them. Seeming opposites, they connect on both an emotional and physical level.

This book explores some serious issues, like the stigma of sex work and religious belief. I am an atheist but I truly enjoyed the fact that a big part of the story was about the place where science and spirituality meet, and how they can both be part of becoming a better person in this world.

Danan always tells such intelligent, funny, sexy and sweet stories. She does this by writing wonderful characters who are strong yet vulnerable and always capable of growth. And also by being her trademark sex-positive self.

I was so pleased to glimpse a little bit of Clara and Josh’s happily ever after in this book. I will read every book in the series that Danan is willing to write.

I read The Roommate recently and immediately became obsessed with Rosie Danan and was super excited to get the chance to read the ARC of The Intimacy Experience. I love her writing style and the knowledge she displays in her books. This book did not disappoint and is one you definitely want to add to your tbr list right now...I am serious...do it now!

The main characters are Naomi, a former porn star and now co-CEO of a successful startup focussed on sex education.With a recently acquired Masters degree in hand Naomi is interested in teaching in the classroom setting and gets that opportunity through Nathan. Nathan is a young and attractive reform Rabbi trying to save his struggling synagogue by using some very non traditional recruiting strategies including a series of workshops on modern intimacy that he has convinced Naomi to lead. Rosie is a genius for thinking up this combination because this is just beyond. 

The attraction and chemistry between Naomi and Nathan is almost instantaneous. I loved both characters, I thought they were well developed and balanced. They were characters I could connect with and I definitely got invested and couldn't stop reading. This was definitely steamy but was balanced with a great plot and secondary characters with stories you wanted to hear. I actually learned a couple things, not something you can often say about romcoms. 

This book is highly recommended, you will love the characters, the writing and may even learn a thing or two. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC.

The Intimacy Experiment is available on April 6, 2021.

Last year, The Roommate by Rosie Danan was one of my favorite romance reads - it was cute, chemistry driven and oh-so sexy. Naturally, when I found out that there would be a companion book focusing on the bad ass Naomi, I slammed the request button on Netgalley for The Intimacy Experiment.

Naomi was one of my favorite characters from The Roommate - she was a total badass who clearly had hidden depths. She used her tough as nails exterior as a way to shield herself from the judgement of the world. Her character arc throughout this book was phenomenal: I loved getting to see her learn to open up to other people (especially with Clara, I love a good female friendship). I also really loved the storyline about her finding her faith and figuring out how it fit into her life - it was authentic and really poignant.

I think I might like Naomi and Ethan as a couple even more than I loved Clara and Josh. Right off the bat, Naomi and Ethan had sparks flying - well before either one of them had acknowledged their attraction to the other. They complimented each other exceedingly well - Ethan’s soft approach to life (he’s a total cinnamon roll softy) was complimentary to Naomi’s hard as a rock exterior. Their romance was definitely a slow burn, but it was worth it to get to see Ethan finally make his way past Naomi’s walls.

Y’all. The banter. Oh my god. I knew from The Roommate how well Naomi could verbally spar, but I really loved getting to read her banter with Ethan. She tried to fluster him constantly and I was shocked at how well Ethan could volley quips back at her.

The Intimacy Experiment is an excellent follow up to last year’s The Roommate: it maintains the same sex positive attitude and fast pace and impossible-not-to-love characters. Naomi and Ethan are one of my new favorite romance couples - their chemistry was amazing and organic and they were just too cute.

“This world is full of people who would rather hate you then examine the pain in their own hearts. They will try to limit who you can love, who you can spend time with, who you can fuck. Some of these people will act like their condemnation is in your best interest. That one day you’ll thank them for showing you the error of your ways. Some of them feel better about their own lives when they can deny the validity of yours.”

I originally thought about giving this three stars. After reading The Roommate, I was expecting more STEAM. (We want steam, we want steam!) If you read it, you know what I mean. But, that’s not really a reason to take off stars because this is a perfectly sweet little romance that still has an average amount of steam for the genre. Not only that, our author is constantly bringing awareness to important topics in such an expert manner.

Rosie Danan continues to bring femininity, body positivity, sex positivity, and forward thinking to her novels. She touches on serious and divisive issues, like religion. Her books are a prime example of the good that comes from romance novels. Part of me was wary about this because I am not religious at all. I tend to shy away from novels with hugely religious aspects. In ‘The Roommate’ we met Naomi, former pornstar and co-founder of Shameless, an organization that focuses on women having a positive relationship with sex. In this installment, she pairs with a local Rabbi, Ethan, to teach a course on Modern Intimacy. Ethan is going and very forward thinking, not at all judgmental of Naomi’s choices in life. Whether this is realistic or not, I can’t say. I would like to believe that there are people in positions of leadership in religious organizations that think as forwardly as Ethan does. I know we are heading into a more accepting generation of people. I KNOW there are many forward thinking people that still have faith, but it was nice to see it in print. I have many people in my life that are active in their religion but hold room for progressive thinking.

“Look.” Ethan decided to try again. “You’re drunk and belligerent. I can’t say whether it was because you don’t respect women in general, or if it’s because you think sex workers opt in to harassment by virtue of their profession. In either case, let me assure you that you’re very much mistaken.

A charming, flirtatious romance buds between these two unlikely companions. They deal with the protestations of others, finding a balance between religion and sex, and mixing old traditions with new values.. They deal with grieving processes and truly form a trust and understanding with each other. Naomi is absolutely the dominant, tough personality while Ethan is sensitive and more submissive. This reversal of stereotypical gender roles was very heartwarming.

“The tricky thing about grief,” his mom said, “is that even when we know it’s coming, we underestimate our own capacity for suffering.”

Naomi’s story in general is an important one. It highlights the fact that women are often sexualized, but are met with revulsion when they claim their own sexuality or pleasure. Someone can ask for nude photos, but respect the woman less when she complies. They might fantasize about being with a woman, but once the conquest is achieved, they’ll laugh about it with their friends. The double standards are as old as time itself, and people are often willing to admit that, while still looking down at sex workers.

“Everyone turned on me. My friends, my teachers, they all looked at me like I’d done the bad thing. That I’d offended them by making myself vulnerable.” The email on her phone felt like it weighted down her pocket. “That was the first time that I realized my body could be both desirable and disgusting to people at the same time.”

Danan is a phenomenal writer. Her books are full of sexual tension and lighthearted banter but they don’t shy away from significant topics and controversies. I adore what she’s been doing with her novels and can’t wait to see more from her. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the chance to read and review an advanced copy! The Intimacy Experiment comes out April 6th, 2021.

What happens when a former adult performer and a rabbi fall in love?? You get a crash course on feelings and intimacy. Duh!

Picture this: Naomi is a badass. As a former adult performer, now sex educator, she has built her career on empowering people to take charge of their sex lives. Seth is a rabbi with a struggling synagogue. When he attempts to recruit more members by holding an intimacy course, who does he go to teach the lectures? Naomi!!

If you read The Roommate, you met Naomi as this fierce badass that no one would dare cross. In this book, we got to see Naomi finally allow herself to open up, become vulnerable and realize that love and commitment aren’t things you have to run away from.

What I love most about THE INTIMACY EXPERIMENT and Danan’s previous book is how they normalize sex work, and I hope going forward, we can see more books, movies, and tv shows do the same.

I absolutely loved this book, and if you read The Roommate I think you will too!

An excellent follow up to Rosie Danan's The Roommate. This is a rich, contemporary romance which will appeal to fans of Talia Hibbert, Tessa Bailey, and Helen Hoang. The Roommate was more of a bildungsroman, but the main characters here are all grown up. I loved the inclusion of the spiritual lives of the main characters and seeing the different kinds of faith that built through the story.

The Roommate’s hotly-anticipated companion novel, The Intimacy Experiment, was different, but still brought the emotions.

After making a name for herself as a popular adult film star and co-founder of a subscription-based business built on exploring sexual satisfaction, Naomi Grant wanted to dip her toes in the academic waters. She was interested in teaching on sexual and romantic wellness but no one was willing to give her a chance until Rabbi Ethan Cohen offered her the opportunity to lead a 7-week seminar sponsored by his synagogue.

My feelings about this book were complicated. If I were to be picky I would give The Intimacy Experiment 3.75 stars, but we’ll make it easy on all of us and round up to 4 stars. As expected, The Intimacy Experiment was a very different book from The Roommate. Naomi was the prickly and vulnerable lead that we expected and The Intimacy Experiment was her space to explore her heritage and address the traumas from her past. Naomi and Ethan’s relationship was soft and delicate. It was impossible not to love Ethan because he was an adorable puppy who was willing to sacrifice for those he loved, even if they didn’t think themselves deserving. I liked The Intimacy Experiment, but the whole time I was reading it, I was wishing I was re-reading The Roommate instead.

The Intimacy Experiment was an emotional read and will surely satisfy readers who enjoy prickly heroines.

This book has undeniable chemistry that sucks you in from the very beginning. I’m such a huge fan of this series and the way it portrays sex in such a healthy, open way. While romance in general opens the topic of sex, The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment take that topic and run with it in such a fun, healthy way.

Having the main characters be a former porn actress, current sex education start-up co-founder and rabbi instantly make for an interesting story! The two characters are SO likeable and watching them overcome their own personal and professional struggles to be together was really enjoyable. Their chemistry was also off the charts, and seeing how flustered and choked up they got around one another was super fun. The anticipation was really exciting!

This book also got me hella emotional at the end during one of the final speeches. It was so raw and honest and honestly some really good, genuine advice. Overall, this book was such a joy and I can’t wait to read more of Danan’s work!

Rosie Danan does it again! I absolutely adored her second book The Intimacy Experiment. After reading the Roommate, I was excited to get Naomi's story and it did not disappoint. I am not sure how she made an adult film star and a rabbi work, but Naomi and Ethan were perfect together. I loved Naomi's strength and brashness, and I loved to see her soften and even explore her Jewish faith. And of course I adored Ethan. As someone who has been in ministry (though a different faith tradition), I could relate to his story in so many ways. Working in a place of faith is rewarding but difficult. And it can be difficult to find space to explore your sexuality. Naomi was really the perfect foil for him. And holy hotness, the scene in the living room was HOT. I will definitely be looking for Rosie Danan's next book! .

Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won't hire her.

Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag nominated him as one of the city's hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Low on both funds and congregants, the executive board of Ethan's new shul hired him with the hopes that his nontraditional background will attract more millennials to the faith. They've given him three months to turn things around or else they'll close the doors of his synagogue for good.

Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems--until they discover a new one--their growing attraction to each other. They've built the syllabus for love's latest experiment, but neither of them expected they'd be the ones putting it to the test..

I thought this book was really interesting. It was kind of a difficult challenge to follow the roommate because I loved it so much. I did like how she incorporated other religions into her story but it wasn’t really for me

What a fun follow up to The Roommate! I really enjoyed seeing how the world of the synagogue intersected with the healthy sexuality world. Rosie Danan is an author to watch.

What do you get when you mix a retired sex worker turned start-up badass and a hot young Rabbi, together? All.The.Feels.

From Rosie Danan, author of the incredibly saucy romcom The Roommate comes The Intimacy Experiment. This time Naomi Grant is at the front and she's taking no prisoners, well unless they're willing. When Naomi crosses paths with good-natured Ethan Cohen looking to bring fresh new blood to his synagogue, he offers her something she can't refuse - her own seminar on Modern Intimacy. Together they teach their young students how date from the first steps of meeting their friends to the inevitable breakup. Little do they know their seminar on Modern Intimacy would soon become the roadmap to their relationship.

Naomi sizzles on the pages just as she did in the Roommate, and is given ample space to grow and feel vulnerable. Ethan dazzles as a Rabbi who falls head over heels with his own insecurities that haunt him. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, as I was with Roommate. While I kept expecting more saucy scenes (hey it's Naomi Grant we're talking about!), this novel truely unfolded like a sweet romance with a hint of sex. It was lovely and warmed my heart in just the right way.

Thank you NetGalley, Rosie Danan and Berkely Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. Loved it.

This was a good read. I will say, I felt it got a little slow bw 50-80% but overall I loved it. Love of representation and I have to say I learned about the Jewish faith quite a bit! I loved the main characters, too. This is the second in a series, but I didn’t feel lost. Just FYI if got read these out of order as well. This comes out in April, if you’re looking for a romance to pick up.

Thanks to @berkleypub, @netgalley, and Rosie Danan for my gifted copy of The Intimacy Experiment! This fabulous romance is out on April 6th.

Naomi Grant is a porn star turned entrepreneur (the start-up she cofounded with friends has become an international success), and Ethan Grant is a rabbi looking for ways to bring more people into his synagogue. Ethan turns to Naomi, and asks her to lead a series about modern intimacy and dating. What results is an undeniable attraction, and a few real-life lessons on modern intimacy that neither of them expected.

Y’all, I loved The Roommate, and The Intimacy Experiment is definitely a successful sequel! It keeps the sex-positive mindset, and brings in Jewish representation. I loved seeing things through Ethan’s mindset, and learning more about the life of a rabbi through this book. Naomi is such a neat woman as well. I love how she takes her steps into live lecturing, and keeps going in the face of rejection. She has such a tough past, and her journey to success is definitely one worth reading.

Rest assured that if you haven’t read The Roommate, you could still read The Intimacy Experiment as a stand alone book.

This may be the first review I write that is almost entirely the bits I highlighted from the book. Maybe a little spoiler-y.

"I get out of bed because I think about the connection that we all have, this fragile humanity, each of us insignificant and at the same time precious. A continuation of a species that is recklessly unique. I remember that life is a finite gift, and I’d be an asshole to waste it...[why do you get out of bed in the morning?]”
“The world is cruel and unrelenting, full of pain and injustice,” she said again, leaning just slightly toward him, “and I am a stick of dynamite.” Ethan’s breath caught in his chest, but she wasn’t done. “Sometimes ineffectual, other times unnecessarily destructive, but, on occasion, enough to at least temporarily disrupt the rhythm of the patriarchal abyss threatening to stick down everything I care about and hold it hostage."

“I’ve spent my entire adult life in therapy learning to love myself, because I believed that if I loved myself, I wouldn’t need anyone else’s love. But that’s not really how it works, is it?” “No, I don’t think so,” he said softly. Naomi was so . . . gone over this man. No map, no compass. Gone. “I’m starting to think all those years of emotional depravation just made me hungrier. So, sure, I guess I’ll take God’s love. If he’s offering.” “He’s offering,” Ethan confirmed.

Also features really well-written smexy times (although def a slow burn to get there), humor, and a few glimpses of Clara & Josh from The Roommate (not necessary to read that book first, although some bits of The Roommate are spoiled by things happening in The Intimacy Experiment).

The characters and tone of Rosie Danan books remind me of Victoria Dahl's contemporaries, but since Victoria's switched to psychological thrillers, that's not necessarily helpful.

So: I would recommend this to fans of Christina Lauren, Courtney Milan, Alisha Rai, Rose Lerner, Kate Clayborn, Talia Hibbert, Alyssa Cole, Helen Hoang. It's smart, funny, sexy, culturally aware, and emotionally intelligent.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Can I extra-nominate it for #LibraryReads?

This was a delightful surprise of a contemporary romance. I thought this was so smart, so fresh, so sex positive - and I loved how it incorporated questions of how faith plays into today's world and as a relevant element of two people figuring out how to come together. The only thing that didn't totally hit for me in this was that the dialogue, while sharp, didn't feel very lived in to me. It read more like a script or a monologue that, while funny or touching, often took me out of the flow of the book. Still, I loved this book's point of view and I want to read more from this author 100%

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan is a great followup to the first book in the series, The Roommate. It can be read as a standalone, and focuses on Naomi and Ethan. It's a slower build and relies on less steam than its predecessor, but still had some good chemistry.

Ethan is a really sweet, vulnerable character, and the first Rabbi book boyfriend I've met - what a welcomed addition to romance novels! His meets his match (and his opposite) in Naomi, a sex worker who struggles with trust and what her religion means to her. This book gets a high five for great rep!

I love the sex-positive focus, and the wonderful representation of sex workers. This series is SO important to read to shift the negative stereotypes around sex work and its perceived immorality. It really focuses on sex education, and how it can fit in with religious faith, as well as dealing with community prejudice. These parts of the book are so strong, and often brought me to tears.

The balance between those sections and character development felt a little off for me, however, as I had a hard time connecting emotionally to either Ethan or Naomi. I wasn't devouring the book, and sometimes felt compelled to take a break and put it down.

Overall, this is definitely an enjoyable story that I think everyone should read for a perspective shift. It just wasn't a great fit for me.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.