Will be posted on Forever Young Adult blog and Instagram.

LET'S GET IT ON with The Intimacy Experiment (The Roommate #2) by Rosie Danan

Disclaimer: You don’t NEED to have read The Roommate before diving into Naomi’s story, but it does provide some good background on her character and her business (and it’s also a great book!).

First Impressions
This is definitely a Monet. From far away I love the colors, the pink neon sign lettering that is reminiscent of its predecessor, and that Naomi is at the lectern and that fits the story. But I don’t love the cartoon representations of the characters. Naomi is not giving me bitch-on-wheels vibes and I am not about Ethan’s middle-part floppy hair. But, you know, it’s fine.

What’s Your Type?
Friends to lovers; prickly-with-a-heart-of-gold ex-porn stars; sex positivity; thoughtful discussion on religion; hot and well-spoken rabbis

Dating Profile
Naomi Grant is a force to be reckoned with. A former adult film entertainer who began a highly successful company about sex positivity with her two best friends, she also recently completed her master’s in social psychology and wants to teach. But there’s very few places who will take a chance on an ex-porn star, especially one as audacious, ball-busting, and confident as Naomi.

Quote that perfectly encapsulates her character:
“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. Sometimes ineffectual, other times unnecessarily destructive, but, on occasion, enough to at least temporarily disrupt the rhythm of the patriarchal abyss threatening to suck down everything I care about and hold it hostage.”

Enter Ethan Cohen, former physics teacher turned rabbi of a failing synagogue where the average member owns an AARP membership. He found his religion again after his father died, and he knows that his new profession isn’t exactly appealing to most women. He needs something eye-catching and fresh to get butts in seats or his role at his little synagogue is at risk of becoming obsolete. When Noami boldly offers her lecturing services at a conference, he’s the only one brave enough to take her up on it.

Quote that perfectly encapsulates his character:
“It’s, uh…why I always come back to the Einstein quote I told you about. I guess 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.”

Meet Cute
Naomi doesn’t see how a lecture series on Modern Intimacy works with religion—especially when she is the one presenting—but she can’t deny she’s intrigued, and not just about the work. Ethan has a magnetizing, passionate way of speaking about his interests, and apparently has no idea how utterly hot he is while doing so. Ethan finds Naomi utterly beguiling, as he should, but assumes there is no way she would ever be interested in shackling herself to a man whose job makes putting others a priority over himself.

The Lean
Please indulge me as I use another quote (I highlighted so many) to kick off this section:
“Ethan wondered if some people found battling her demanding instead of exhilarating. He’d always loved pop quizzes.”

While the physical chemistry is definitely there, this book is way more about Ethan and Naomi falling in love with each other’s brains. Naomi has finally found someone who can shake loose the heart she’s built a cage of snark and stone around, and Ethan, like intelligent beta he is, finds that every part of Naomi from her amazing looks to her whip-smart brain completely fascinating. On the surface they may not be the most obvious pair, but watching them get to know and totally respect each other’s worth was simultaneously hot and sweet.

Dirty Talk
Unlike the first book, there isn’t much actual sex in The Intimacy Experiment, though what we do get is, as I just mentioned, hot, explicit, AND sweet. Naomi knows how to have hot sex, but the emotional connection is not something she is prepared for. Before the deed is done, the dirtiest moments are Noami lusting after Josh, and because she is hilarious and bold, I found myself looking forward to these parts the most:
“He looked like a Calvin Klein model, and she observed that with the authority of someone who had fucked more than her fair share of Calvin Klein models. The shadow cast by his bearded jawline was ridiculous. She could wait out a summer storm underneath that thing.”

And even during the sexy moments Noami’s perspective still had me both turned on and giggling:
“He moved to grab some from the other room and returned still smiling, following orders and showing off his ass which, yeah someone was getting spanked later because fuck. What on earth?! The amount of squats required—”

Ms. Perky's Prize for Purplest Prose
Just like in her first book, I highlighted a lot of quotes from Danan’s writing because I apparently really enjoy the way she views life, love, and everything in between. But this is a romance review, so let’s focus on another sex moment that also made me laugh, because the most emotional sex often combines the two:
“All of a sudden, Ethan was extremely naked, and honestly she could come like this. She could come looking at his fucking gorgeous dick and his stupid face that she was so fond of that right now she kind of wanted to punch him in it. She was ready to write poems about his footlong eyelashes and the texture of his beard and the way his chest was covered in dark hair that made her want to whimper, physically whimper, at the sight of it, at the contrast of the color against his skin.”

We Need To Talk
I am not a religious person by any means, so the idea of reading about a rabbi initially had me halfway to Fred Savage, but I had faith (heh) in Danan, and she did not disappoint. I liked Ethan’s perspective coming from being a man of science who also cares about his faith because he feels that both are really two sides of the same coin: he’s looking for truth and meaning in a chaotic world. Naomi’s lectures on modern love were interesting and thoughtful and I particularly also liked getting to know the people who showed up for each session and became this open and honest group of friends.

I actually think I liked this book even more than The Roommate, and in no small part was that due to Naomi, who is such a fantastic character that I would’ve gladly read about her hanging out sorting her socks.
The only quibble I have is with the ending. Everything else in the book feels so grounded and realistic, even, for the most part, when we get to the big crisis point. But then we get to the resolution, and it becomes a bit contrived. Both Naomi and Ethan give these separate big, messy public speeches, and having two felt like overkill. (I think I had a similar feel about the ending from the first book. Not everything requires a huge romantic gesture!)

Was It Good For You?
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Absolutely! I’m already looking forward to my next Danan romance!

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Berkley Books. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. The Intimacy Experiment is available now.

A fun and sexy follow up to The Roommate, I enjoyed getting to know my favorite character from the first book better. As in The Roommate, the book is sex positive and respectful of sex work in a way that's hard to find in any genre.

The Intimacy Experiment is a unique love story and I loved the feeling of "woman power" that emitted from the pages! I'm so excited to continue reading more books by the author. I know she's going to stay a favorite of mine!

I enjoyed this story but overall, it's not for me. I think the author writes scenes too steamy for me, I don't connect with the characters, and just question some of the decisions the characters make. They really did not seem to make sense or go along with their moral values that we thought we knew. Thank you for my advanced copy.

Wow, this book was so so good. I was a little caught off guard because I thought this would be similar to The Roommate, which it wasn't. This focused more on Naomi as a person and her experience with what society tells her about herself as a sex worker, and her experience with religion and finding a way back. I loved the interactions between Naomi and Ethan, and how they helped each other. This was so, so good, and I cannot wait to read more from Rosie Danan in the future!

Fans of The Roommate will be so happy to now that Naomi gets her own book!

Book is fun, steamy, sex positive, and feminist. What more could you ask for (other than IRL Shameless website)?

Readers do not need to read The Roommate first, but it would be a little helpful to establish characters and relationships.

Reader Advisory: For people who might enjoy a side of social issues with their steaminess.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So in love with this book!

This is the kind of feminist, sex-positive, self-love comedy that makes you want to stand up and clap at the end. And I did not picture myself ever saying that about a romance book where the male lead is a rabbi. (no, I'm not even joking about that)

This book is a hell of a ride, talking about God and sex and porn and intimacy and it somehow works? Also, it has vast amounts of smutty bits and they are amazing, and also super sweet intimate moments that make you believe in love again.

Naomi is sassy and fierce and seeing her mushy side come out when she starts dating Ethan is a joy to read.

Give this book a try, you're in for a treat!

Thank you Netgalley for this ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.

Naomi Grant isn't a relationship expert but she does know sex. After all, she's a former porn star turned sex educator, with her own booming website Shameless. But getting people to take her seriously as a teacher with valuable knowledge to share is another story. When she meets Ethan Cohen, an attractive young Rabbi looking to draw more young people to his congregation, the plans to deliver a multi-week seminar series on modern intimacy are formed. As the sessions go by, Naomi and Ethan find themselves drawn to each other and experiencing their own modern courtship. But can this opposites attract couple find their way to a true happy ending?

I really enjoyed this story! I haven't read The Roommate (but definitely have put it on my to-read list now) and just the premise itself was intriguing and drew me in. I really appreciated how the author showed the difference between sex and intimacy. Naomi has no problem with sex obviously, but intimacy requires openness and sharing and Ethan is able to draw Naomi into his warm and comforting presence, enabling her to trust him with her heart. The sexual scenes are hot and display their growing affection for each other. I really liked Ethan and how dedicated he is to growing his congregation and sharing his faith. This isn't an inspirational romance in the traditional sense (no proselytizing here) but Ethan's faith (and Naomi's too as she is half Jewish) are an important part of the story and I appreciated learning about Judaism through an own voices author. The difficulties they encounter are not unexpected based on their careers but overcome in a positive and believable way. I highly recommend this romantic comedy for any reader wanting something out of the ordinary but exceptional.

Best romance I've read this year (so far). Author Rosie Danan tackles dating, consent, slut shaming and Judaism in this sexy novel about Naomi Grant, a sex worker and former porn star looking for a venue for complement her online and streaming site Shameless with live and lively lectures on sex, intimacy, dating and pleasure. Naomi connects at a conference for educators with Ethan Cohen, a hot young rabbi looking for a way to reinvigorate continuing education and increase membership at his first congregational pulpit. With not much to lose, the unlikely duo contrive a seven session series to cover the gamit of meeting someone to date to how to end things and survive a breakup. With less that a dozen folks at the first session, and so few attending a speed dating event that Ethan and Naomi just have to pitch in, subsequent sessions increase in attendance exponentially... and so does the discomfort of most of the synagogue's Board members.

Fiesty Naomi and compassionate Ethan have instant attraction, and are beautiful people, but they are also refreshing flawed, AWARE of their flaws, and disclose their flaws. Naomi struggles with residual trauma from high school, having reinvented herself after nude photos meant for her boyfriend go viral; Ethan struggles to connect to his remaining family and to maintain the respect of his board (and keep his job). Their characterizations are complex, their backgrounds pretty different, and yet... this is a OTP if ever there was one.

As a Jew by choice, I crave to read romance with Jewish themes, and such books are few and far between. I'd like to think I completely "got it" from the occasional Hebrew phrase to the culture of practice to the lessons from Torah and Talmud that Ethan and Naomi share. The Intimacy Experiment does not come off as a religious story, although faith plays a strong role, and thus should not alienate non-Jewish readers.

There is a lot of talk about sex, but really only one steamy scene (and it's totally hot, and tempered with uncertainty and honesty). Danan could have gone into more specific detail about how the Jewish tradition incorporates the values of consent and mutual pleasure in sexual relationships, especially as Ethan is continuously trying to justify the course, but maybe because it's so couched in marriage and procreation.

The book (almost!) concludes with the best self-care, post-breakup advice, ever, because some unfortunate protests lead to Naomi delivering her final class to students at her former high school, instead of the participants at Beth Elohim. But, if there is no HEA or HFN ending, it's not a romance, right?

My review is not doing justice to the clever writing, bravery and honesty of Rosie Danan; her skillful plotting so that Ethan and Naomi speed through the set topics of the lectures as they apply them in real life; the authentic voice of her characters; the humor; the attention to every detail. I can't wait to see what synagogue is going to pick this for book club; I volunteer as tribute to lead it.

I read #TheIntimacyExperiment on #NetGalley the same week it came in on hold for me in OverDrive at my library... and read it AGAIN, because it was just that good.

The Intimacy Experiment is a refreshing, wildly entertaining romantic comedy that I did not see coming. Oh, I read the blurb, but even so, I didn't expect this. I read a lot, and to be honest, it isn't often that I find something so original. Naomi and Ethan were an absolute joy to read, and I loved the many themes that this story hit on. This couple isn't one you'd expect to work, but they really do. They're likable, both separate and together, and Danan brings them together so naturally. This is just one of those couples that you can't help but want to see them get their HEA. I'll leave there so I don't give too much of it away, and I'll just say if you enjoy RomComs, you need to read this one. It's well written and equal parts sweet, funny, and sexy.

I was unprepared for this! My fault since I didn't read the blurb.

The couple is an unlikely pair: A rabbi and an ex-porn actress.

Ethan Cohen is the rabbi of a new congregation. Unfortunately, his census is very low and in order to keep the synagogue open, he needs to find a way to attract young people to it. He decides to hire a professional to do a seminar in intimacy.

Naomi Grant is a successful businesswoman. Her company is doing extremely well. Yet, she feels like she could do more. She knows about sex and she wants to be able to help couples. When Ethan offers her a chance to do live lectures, she wants to say no at first but her interest is piqued, and not only for the seminar but because of the rabbi too.

This was such an original romance. I didn't read the Roommate so I had no clue about Naomi. I ended up loving her and of course, who wouldn't love Ethan. They complemented each other so well.

I love when a novel keeps on making me smile and this one did the trick. The steam was just enough too.

I will find time and read the first book in this series. I think Josh and Clara sound awesome too.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Intimacy Experiment is a spin off of The Roommate by Rosie Danan. I enjoyed this one much more than the first book because it felt more realistic. The main character, Naomi, had real problems and it was more of a character improvement/growth story than just a romance novel. Reading about her character in The Roommate made her seem strong, closed off and sometimes a bitch. I enjoyed reading about her past and becoming a porn star. She showed real emotion, fear, and growth throughout the story. I liked the slow burn romantic aspect of the story because Naomi was learning to trust and love for the first time. Ethan was the perfect person to help her through that journey and I was really happy with the ending. I feel like I learned a lot about modern intimacy as well from Naomi's seminars.

First I want to Thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this book.

After having finished the Roommate, I had been looking forward to Naomi's story, she was just such an interesting character for me in the first read I couldn't wait to see how she would fall in love.

Rabbi Cohen was everything I needed him to be in a guy, he was sweet and understanding and made me want to date him myself. Honestly he is going on my list of fictional boyfriends.

I also loved learning about Judaism in this book and about Reform Jews, I did not know much about the Jewish culture and religion so it was nice to have a book that focused on that and showed the side of Judaism we do not get to see often, especially in mainstream society. The fact that it was the main point in a romance novel was great as well. I love to read a good book with diverse topics.

Thank you to Rosie Danan for writing this book, it was a great read and I will definitely be recommending it to all my bookstagram followers.

An ex adult film star meets a Rabbi...

The Intimacy Experiment was my first book by Rosie Danan and certainly will not be my last. This was the first book I read where religion, specifically Judaism, was the central focus of the story and the romance was secondary. It's interesting to see how many faiths share some similarities. I thought the chemistry between Naomi and Ethan was off the charts and at times very nerdy. They got the ending they deserved. Of course I rarely ever read a book series in order so I will now have to read The Roommate. If you did read The Roommate then you will absolutely love The Intimacy Experiment.

This follow-up to The Roommate provides a great standalone contemporary romance, with its extremely likeable characters and the steamy relationship that blossoms throughout the book. The inclusion of the Jewish religion and culture also helps this romance novel stand out among the rest.

Have you heard the one where a rabbi meets a porn star?

I hadn’t either.

And this premise is precisely what gives The Intimacy Experiment a unique twist on the romance genre.

This book is the follow up to the successful debut, The Roommate. Although there are some connections between the two books, you don’t necessarily have to read them in order. This time around the focus is on Ethan, a hot and available rabbi and Naomi (who shows up in the first book), a former porn star who is trying to build a brand around a sex positive startup.

Ethan has been trying to bring more millennials to his congregation, so partnering with Naomi, while risky, seems like a risk worth taking. Together they hatch the idea to start a forum on modern intimacy that, if it works, would benefit both of their desires. But what happens when the lines between professional and personal start to get blurry?

Sophomore releases can be tricky, especially if your first book was as successful as Rosie Danan’s first. But dare I say it, I liked The Intimacy Experiment more than The Roommate. The religious angle was a risk, but I think it was touched upon just enough to be feel authentic. I also felt the relationship between Naomi and Ethan was realistic and given a good amount of time to blossom, unlike a lot of romance novels of late that go all in too quickly for my tastes. This only serves to make me more excited for future releases by Danan if her storytelling chops continue to grow.

Thanks to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for the review copy!

Y'all, you guys, my friends, book loving folx, this book is phenomenal. I loved The Roommate and had high expectations for The Intimacy Experiment and Rosie Danan took those expectations and far surpassed them.

Romance is my favorite genre, I'm sure that comes as zero surprise to all of you, but I have truly been loving the diversity in the genre in recent years. I cannot express how much I loved this book without saying how much I enjoyed the focus on Judaism and how much I learned. And on that note, this book made me take a hard look at the books I've read and I noticed that very few of them have dealt with Judaism (except for books set in WWII). I wasn't aware that there was a gap there, and now I am. It is my goal to do better.

I loved this book. I really did. It was laugh out loud funny, steamy, sweet, and educational. I was rooting for Naomi and Ethan the whole time and they have fast become one of my favorite couples of 2021.

Thank you to Danan, Netgalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in The Roomate series, and while I really enjoyed the first book The Roommate, I personally think that this book is next level.

Naomi Grant is an ex-porn star turned co-CEO of the sex-positive start-up Shameless. Ethan Cohen is a hot new Rabbi looking to attract a younger crowd to his synagogue. He has an idea to start a seminar series on modern intimacy, and who better to teach it than Naomi. Plus, she’s looking for an in-person class to teach now that Shameless is going so well with online modules.

Both of the main characters have a lot of personal issues to sort out, and neither of them are looking for a partner, but their instant attraction is undeniable and the build-up to them doing anything about it was completely delicious. In fact, I loved both of the main characters so much I just wanted to hug the book…or my Kindle rather…after reading it. Ethan is a sexy, caring, insightful snack of a man and Naomi is just 100% bad-ass and amazing.

I don’t want to give too much away, but like I mentioned at the start, I enjoyed the first book but this book was just so so fantastic! If you haven’t read it yet, you need to get on that!

I really enjoyed this one, it was fun, witty and contained a lot more depth than what I thought going into it. Don’t let the book summary deceive you! There is a lot more character development than what we see on the surface, which I loved most about this story.

Adorable rom com! I liked the first book better, but this one has the witty banter and all the feels too!! These covers are just the cutest.. The relationships bring me in and keep me hooked until the end. I like this authors writing and can't wait to read more.