I wasn’t a huge fan of The Roommate so I had some major hesitations going into this one. Normally a book that has any religion as a main focus would cause me to be even more nervous to pick a book up, but when I heard the two main characters were a former adult entertainer and a rabbi - my intrigue won over!!

I absolutely loved how the author wove religion throughout the story, it wasn’t preachy, just informative. I learned about Judaism and I liked seeing this representation in a romance.

Watching both characters work through their internal struggles had me rooting for them the entire time. Ethan is swoon worthy. I found him charming, sweet and adorable. I loved Naomi’s tough as nails attitude and was excited to see her let someone into her life and the changes that brought along with it.

It’s a slowwww burn romance, but it works for their journey. The couple scenes of steam that you do get make up for the lack of it in the first half....wow 🔥.

I enjoyed this one so much more than I expected to! Love when that happens! Thanks to Berkeley for the #gifted book!

I read The Roommate and then immediately wanted The Intimacy Experiment because Naomi was calling to me. Her spirit and outlook on dating and love was definitely more in line with my own so I was desperate to see how the author wrote her!

Normally I write reading notes for review books but I didn’t stop reading long enough to take any. This book is compulsively readable. I was addicted. Naomi and Ethan are so adorable together without it being cliche or banal. There was a sharpness to it, an edge, especially from Naomi that made the romance new and fresh. But that also made the slow rollout of vulnerabilities that much more real and effective. It was a brilliantly built story.

The themes and ideas were also fantastic. It builds on the foundation that The Roommate gave and added so much more. And it was fun and clever too. While it wasn’t perfect, there was also a great balance of feminism, modern thinking, love, sex, religion, and respect.

I absolutely recommend it.

*I received a free ecopy from the publisher via netgalley.

Okay, full honesty: I read The Intimacy Experiment in less than 5 hours. Yes, I couldn't drop it. There was so much chemistry between Naomi and my new favorite rabbi, Ethan. There isn't a lot of smut (and there could have been a lot more, imho), I was so invested in their relationship. In a few moments, Naomi's description as a sex goddess threw me off as if the author also participated in the fantasy that Naomi herself struggled with. I don't know how that would have been acknowledged, however.

I didn't like this one as much as the first but it was still excellent - I was hoping for more sex sooner, but this was definitely a slow burn. Great chemistry & a great story overall. 4-4.5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

I really enjoyed following Naomi's romance in this book. For all her bluster and tough-facade, she really just wants to be seen. I liked that her love interest was the complete opposite of her, and an incredibly soft-hearted guy. I think that pairing worked perfectly, especially for her.
I also found Naomi's lecture series on modern intimacy to be really fascinating. More people need to give her a chance, because she was so good at it!
I highly enjoyed this one, and can't wait to see what else the author comes up with.

Second books by an author are a struggle for me. I always have high expectations after loving the first book and I want to love the second just as much. Sometimes I am lucky and it exceeds my expectations. Other times I am disappointed and I feel like the book just wasn’t as good. For The Intimacy Experiment I’m not sure how I actually feel about it. I read the book months ago and I’m still not sure.

The Intimacy Experiment is the story of Naomi, a former adult entertainer now a cofounder of sex-positive start-up company. And when the company becomes an international sensation Naomi wants to expand to live lectures. The problem is that no one in higher education wants to hire a former sex worker. Enter Ethan, a hot new bachelor and the new rabbi at his own synagogue. When Ethan give Naomi a chance to try and bring in more of the younger Jewish community both get more than they expected out of the experiment.

I’ll tell you want I’m sure on from The Intimacy Experiment…Ethan and Naomi. They were the one part of the whole book that I know I love with my whole heart. They were 10000% opposites and 100000% perfect for each other. Ethan had a lot of lose by bringing in something so radical and against the norms of the synagogue but all Naomi needed was for someone to see beyond her former occupation. Watching as the two of them opened up to each other and learned from one another was the best part of the reading experience.

When I was introduced to Naomi in Rosie Danan’s debut, The Roommate, I was intrigued by her. She seemed like she had a story behind that hardshell/chip on her shoulder. There was something soft and kind she was hiding behind and I was curious wha that was. And that is exactly what I found out when reading The Intimacy Experiment. And that is what you will find out too when you pick up your copy.

Loved it! This was just such an amazing book! I’m just so excited about how refreshing the sex positivity in this story was. We meet Naomi in the previous book in the series, The Roommate. She is a well-known porn star, Josh’s ex-girlfriend, and eventually Claire’s business partner. This story picks up three years later Naomi has retired from the porn industry, she has gone back to school, and the business is a huge success. Naomi wants to teach sex positive sex education, but is having trouble finding a job. Enter Rabbi Ethan wanting to bring the younger crowd to the synagogue. He hires Naomi to teach a six week course on Modern Intimacy. When the Sparks start flying between Naomi and Ethan they decide to use the class syllabus as a dating blueprint. But not everyone is thrilled with the rabbi dating an ex porn star.

First of all how delightfully refreshing is the premise of this story? A rabbi as a lead in a romcom? Who would’ve thought? Love the Jewish representation. And Ethan is a great character. He’s a good guy who means well but he doesn’t always do or say the right thing. I thought Naomi was a great character after reading the previous book, but after reading this book I like her even more. She has so much spunk and spirit, and is so smart and savvy. She can also be very stubborn and that did frustrate me and Ethan at times. The two of them together have off the charts chemistry. There is some definite steam and sizzle in the story! Cannot wait to see what is next from Rosie Danan.

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is my first book by Rosie Danan and it most certainly won't be my last! The Intimacy Experiment is a breath of fresh air, funny, smart, and so enjoyable.

The story follows Naomi, a retired sex worker who is the cofounder of a new sex positive company. She would like to expand the business by teaching sex education classes and lectures. She meets the hero in the story Ethan, a rabbi who would like Naomi to teach a series on intimacy to attract a younger age group to the congregation.

I loved how this book discovered themes such as faith, sex, and love. The characters and romance was absolute perfection. Naomi, is a new favorite of mine, she's so relatable and her vulnerability was admirable. She has gone through a lot in her life and is a reason why she fights her feelings for Ethan. Ethan, is definitely a new favorite book boyfriend and he completely has my heart. His love, admiration, and respect for Naomi was simple incredibly sweet and heartwarming.

This story hit the spot and I truly didn't want it to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up. I enjoyed this one enough but I didn’t love it. I really enjoyed the Jewish representation and Naomi was a badass heroine but I struggled with the connection between her and Ethan I just didn’t feel it. A few laugh out loud moments but not as funny as the room mate. A cute rom com yes just not a fave

Danan’s follow-up to The Roommate is even more emotional and introspective than her first book! Naomi and Ethan are seemingly polar opposites, but I really loved the way in which their differences made them a stronger couple because they could recognize those parts in each other that few others could actually see. Ethan was never put off by Naomi’s prickly demeanor, and she was never afraid to be upfront with him — except when it came to feelings. The scene where they almost but don’t quite have sex for emotional reasons will stick with me for a long time. This book is another reason Danan has become a must-buy author for me.

4.5 All For The Intimacy Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
It is not every day a romance book has such everyday meaning and openness about how important the intimate relations between a couple are while also sharing the spirituality of it. The concept of a forward-thinking rabbi and sex-positive start-up cofounder working together for mutual purposes makes at first...strange bedfellows.

But as this journey goes into practice, these two become so much more than educators or the head of his congregation. The desires they wish to ignite in others start to happen between them...and when the match is lit, a fire burns bright.

What was the best was the insight into the culture and making it accessible to all. A strong read.

When I finished The Roommate last year, and I heard that Naomi was getting her own book, I was super excited. When I heard that she was going to be having a romance with a rabbi, I will admit that at that point I got a bit nervous. I wasn’t sure how the relationship would progress, and I was scared that religion would be used as a method of separating this couple, in a way villainizing Judaism. But I did not need to worry. Whatever my expectations were for this book, the real thing was so much better than anything I anticipated!

This book follows Naomi who is trying to get a teaching position to share what she knows about sex and intimacy to expand her online platform, Shameless. Surprisingly, the only one interested in offering her a chance is Rabbi Ethan Cohen, as he hopes that Naomi’s seminars on Modern Intimacy will help his synagogue grow. Oh, and of course a romance brews between the two of them!

I think what most surprised me was how Naomi’s character was developed. This book mainly focuses on Naomi working on opening herself up to love and becoming less guarded, while still remaining her feisty self. I really appreciated this approach. It added so much dimension to Naomi because she was learning how and when to let different parts of herself show in different scenarios.

Part of the reason that Naomi started to unravel the more sealed off pieces of herself was because of her interaction with Ethan, who is the softest of cinnamon rolls. Ethan is warm and caring, and he always takes things into consideration before supplying you with exactly what you needed to hear. It’s part of what makes him such a great rabbi as well as a wonderful partner. Ethan had the patience and love that Naomi needed to work through her emotions without being judged. These two were such an adorable pairing that just worked so well!

But the romance wasn’t the only fantastic relationship in this book! The cameos we get from Clara and Josh from The Roommate were so much fun, and I loved seeing how Naomi cared so deeply for her friends through the little actions and such. In the beginning Naomi is reluctant to love and be loved, but it was fantastic seeing her viewpoint slowly evolve throughout the course of the book.

Then of course we have Ethan’s sister Leah! I’m honestly hoping that the next book is about her. She’s an absolute chaos demon and I adored that about her. She’s always there for Ethan, both to embarrass him as any sister would, but also to lend her support. Their interactions always made me smile and this was probably one of my favorite sibling relationships that I’ve read in a while.

Besides for having enjoyed The Roommate, one of the things that first made me want to read this book was the fact that this book featured two Jewish characters. Having Judaism at the forefront of this story was a wonderful thing to see, especially as I had requested this book on account of being an Own Voices Jewish reviewer. I especially loved how much Ethan worked Jewish theology, lore, and concepts into so many interactions. That felt so relatable to me. When you’re immersed in a culture, of course you’re going to reference it all the time! Yet there have been so many times where there is Jewish representation without actual representation of the culture, and I was so happy that this book wasn’t like that.

My reasons for not giving this book a 5 star rating all have to do with my expectations. I was in the mood of a specific kind of book when I picked up The Intimacy Experiment, and what I got was something different. This isn’t a bad thing, but it did take away from my enjoyment, since I kept waiting for the book to take a different turn than it did, even though I was enjoying the current storyline. I think that if you’ve read this review (or any other review) and know to expect a story that’s more about personal growth and finding someone that brings out the best sides of you, this book will easily be one that you adore.

If you’re looking to read a cute romance with a whole lot of Jewish culture and sex positivity in it, look no further. This is the perfect book for you!

I really enjoyed this novel - more than the first in the series. I loved the unique characters and their backgrounds. I thought it was interesting how they navigated their relationship. I also learned a lot through the Jewish representation in the book (without it being preachy). I appreciated how the author balanced faith with realistic life situations. Highly recommend for romance readers that can handle a bit of steam.

I really loved the Roommate. I thought it was funny and sexy while broaching series topics like the mistreatment of sex workers by the public and the industry. Rosie Danan wrote a really unique romcom with The Roommate and she accomplished this yet again with The Intimacy Experiment.

I absolutely adored Naomi in Danan’s first book, and I really appreciated her character and her growth in this book. There was a lot of serious discussion in The Intimacy Experiment with religion and sexuality. I really appreciated how these two subject went hand in hand.

I will continue to pick up and recommend anything by Danan, who is really a wonderful author that redefines the romance book.

Rosie does an excellent job of choosing a main theme and exploring it. In The Roommate it was female pleasure. Owning it. Not being ashamed of it. In this book, it is how modern religion and modern love can coexist. With these main themes, she does a good job of exploring them to the extent I would expect in a romance book. Balancing the serious with the fun and sexy. However, much like in The Roommate, Rosie decides to explore side topics without doing them justice. In this case: revenge porn. Anyone who has read The Roommate will know a bit about Naomi's background, and how it shaped her as an individual. In this book, it also plays a theme, but other than being awful and shocking, the aftermath of it isn't explored.

All in all it was an enjoyable book.

Y’all, I’ve been reading romance for a very long time. A long, long time. I’ve met many swoon worthy men. I’ve swooned. I know I have.

But I’ve never had a book boyfriend quite like Rabbi Ethan Cohen. Seriously. Serve me that man on a platter. He’s hot, compassionate, dedicated, patient, and a million other adjectives.

I adored Naomi, too. She was flawed and strong and also willing to be vulnerable. She never compromised herself when she let her walls down to let Ethan in. She remained true to who she was, which I loved. Naomi is the kind of woman I aspire to be.

So, yup. I loved this book. I will definitely be picking up Rosie Danan’s other books. All of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Intimacy Experiment. It’s the second book in the Roommate series and it did not disappoint.
We have a former porn star turned business owner who now wants to expand and teach, enter Ethan, a former physics teacher now a rabbi of a Reform synagogue.

Slow burn romance that starts off as a partner/working relationship but are attracted to each other and as they work together the attraction grows. What I enjoyed the most was how Naomi and Ethan stayed true to their beliefs and who they were as individuals.

|Book Review| Thank you @berkleyromance and @Netgalley for my gifted copy.

QOTD: How are you doing on your yearly reading goal?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Review: I absolutely loved The Roommate so of course I jumped at the chance to read this one. I will say if you prefer a closed door romance this probably isn't the series for you, but if you like your romances steamy immediately grab yourself a copy of both of these books.

What I loved:

1. Oh how I loved the characters in this book. Ethan had such a great attitude and was such an uplifting positive character and Naomi was so bada$$ that it was hard not to fall in love with her. It's unfortunate how certain people felt the need to judge her because she made different life choices, but I loved how she was unapologetically her. I felt her pain and my heart goes out to all women who have had to deal with similar situations. Their banter was great and the sexual tension was off the charts!

2 I loved the unique plot of this one. Honestly I would have never thought of a rabbi and an ex-porn star turned boss lady romance, but now I can't stop thinking about this one. When you think of the word intimacy your mind usually wonders to the sexual variety, but this book focuses on all kinds of intimacy and how important each one is for a great relationship.

3. One of the reasons why I love this series is the way the author writes sexual experiences in a positive light. Her books are very body positive and she emphasizes that you choose the amount of sex you feel is right. No sex? That's your choice. A lot of sex? That's also your choice and neither option is bad. I know this is an overused phrase, but you do you.

Honestly I really enjoyed this book and hope you do as well.

Thank you @berittalksbooks, @thephdivabooks, and @letstalkbookspromo for including me on the buddy read.

#berkleybuddyreads #bibliophile #mommyreads #instareads #bookstagramaz🌵 #bookblogger #bookreviewer #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #bookreview #berkleyromance #theintimacyexperiment #berkleywritesstrongwomen

Absolutely loved this opposites attract romance about a former porn star and a rabbi. Naomi’s softer side and history are revealed in this one, and I enjoyed her character a lot more than I did in the previous book. Her and Ethan’s chemistry and connection is fabulous. I loved the Jewish representation in this romance and found it both enlightening and refreshing. Really enjoyed this sex positive rom com that is full of laughs, love, and some steam too!

I loved Danan’s The Roommate and couldn’t wait to read Naomi’s story, I loved the initial setup with Naomi going to a professional development event for teachers as she is trying to get a teaching position and keeps getting rejected. She is her outspoken self at the event, shocking some of the other participants when she speaks openly about her work as a sex educator (Shameless is an important part of this book, though not as front and center as it was in the Roommate) and a former sex worker and porn performer. Her perspective intrigues Ethan, a young rabbi trying desperately to breathe life into his new synagogue by attracting younger members. He asks Naomi if she would be willing to partner with him on a lecture series on modern intimacy meant to draw in new, younger congregants.

They are both super hot and attracted to each other, and the steamy parts are great, but what I really liked most about this book was getting to know Naomi and getting a glimpse at her vulnerabilities. She’s not ashamed of her past as a performer and sex worker but that past constantly impacts how she has to navigate and move through the world. Her friendship with Clara was an unexpectedly great part of this book for me, again seeing tough as nails Naomi soften out of her love for her friend. Naomi just feels like a very real and authentic person - badass, confident, and unapologetic most of the time while also dealing with uncertainty and moments of vulnerability in ways that are messy and imperfect. I hope there’s more to come from Rosie Danan!