Girl meets girl. Girl hooks up with girl. Girl feels guilty. Girl hooks up with girl again.

Okay, that's a bit glib, but the first half of Mistakes Were Made is, essentially, one long sex scene with brief breaks for guilt and backstory. The sex scenes are well-written and quite steamy, but not very much happens in the breaks between them.

The plot picks up in the second half of the book. Both characters have very well-developed backstories, which I loved, but I couldn't really see any specialness to their interaction beyond the fireworks in bed. Given the impediments to their relationship (age difference, long distance, friend's mom), I really needed to believe that both of them had found something truly unique to root for them to stick it out, and I just couldn't. I did enjoy some of the twists the plot took, and the ending was sweet.

3.5 stars.

*thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I went into this book open minded and not having any expectations for how it would play out.

I was a little nervous when I realized that this was an age gap romance of 15+ years, but I've read age gap romances before, so I decided to stay open minded. The characters actually immature for their age and it seemed like they were using each other to fill the roles of important people they needed in their lives. I also couldn't sense any connection between Cassie and Erin.

I struggled to connect with the characters and found myself wanting to get through this book as fast as possible because I just wanted to be done. I thought the writing was great, but the plot and characters just wasn't for me.

I loved this book! This is what an adult romance should be. Many new romance books shy away from writing smut, and I loved that this book didn't shy away from sex. Also, Erin and Cassie were so mature, they actually talked about their emotions. Also, I hate the third act breakup and I love that this book didn't have it. Once Erin and Cassie accepted their relationship, they didn't break up because of stupid miscommunication or anything like that. I thought this book was a really mature take on MILFism and I loved it.

Meryl Wilsner’s Something to Talk About was such a fun reading experience for me, and the writing style really worked for me in that book, so I knew I would read whatever they published next.

Mistakes Were Made sounded like it would be a great time! Cassie and Erin have a one-night stand, only to discover that Erin is the mother of Cassie’s friend, Parker. Hotness ensues.

I’ll start by saying I don’t often read age gap romances. I don’t avoid them, but I don’t seek them out necessarily, and sadly, in the most recent ones I’ve read, it led to pretty much no tension. If anything, I was left wondering why the characters even needed to be such different ages (looking at you in particular, Part of Your World). In Mistakes Were Made, though, it totally works. It’s believable that these people would have been interested in each other initially, and it adds to Erin’s character growth that she decides to continue this relationship despite the age difference. So I’m glad I read this because I was about to start avoiding age gap romances altogether.

A lot about this book worked for me. Erin and Cassie’s relationship is easy to root for. I understood why they were into each other and I loved their scenes together! Cooking over FaceTime is adorable and their texts were fun. My absolute favorite thing? Definitely the sex scenes. They were hot, they were numerous, and aside from the confusing logistics of the car sex, they really worked for me. Also, the tension between these characters in general — due to their age, the moments of forced proximity, their overall chemistry — is fantastic. Their relationship was well-developed and I certainly wanted them to end up together.

Sadly, the ongoing “tension” of Parker finding out was more tedious than anything else. I truly did not care when and how she would find out, but I knew she had to at some point, and it was just this annoying thing hanging over my reading experience the entire time. I also never really knew who she was as a person, which would normally be fine, except that if she’s getting this much page time (Is that a thing? What’s the book equivalent to screentime?), and if she’s the biggest obstacle to the couple getting together, I want to know more about her. Other than being bi and hating that her parents got divorced, who the hell is this chick?

This book also feels awfully long for its length. Whether because of the looming reveal or poor pacing, there were long stretches of time where I wanted something to happen, I wanted the story to progress, or I wanted it to be over. I don’t love that feeling!

(I also will never ever get over Acacia’s nickname being Kaysh. Truly… what? No disrespect to anyone’s whose actual name is Acacia and is nicknamed Kaysh, but if that’s a thing… are you happy with that? Do you like that nickname? Cuz it feels awfully forced to me.)

Ultimately, for the hotness alone and the development of our heroines’ relationship, this is worth the read. It’s the type of book that makes me miss the magic of new relationship energy, and that doesn’t happen very often. I’m sure this book won’t work for everyone, especially if you like your side characters more well-rounded, but I do recommend it!

This book was messy! I found myself yelling at the main characters so many times because their decisions were very questionable…

That being said, it was a fun book! Definitely a steamy one, which made up for some of the plot choices.

Overall, not sure if I found the story particularly believable, but I enjoyed it anyway.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

Mistakes Were Made follows Cassie, a senior in college, and Erin, a doctor. To avoid Family Day weekend at her school, Cassie goes to an off-campus bar to have some fun and relax. There she meets Erin, a very hot older women, and the two immediately are attracted to each other. The two have a one-night-stand together and have no intention of ever seeing each other again. That is, until Cassie's friend Parker invites her to have breakfast with her to meet her mom. Upon arriving, Cassie is shocked to realize that the super hot stranger she slept with last night was her friend's mom. Both Cassie and Erin know that they shouldn't continue the relationship, but neither of them can deny the sizzling chemistry between them.

I really enjoyed this book. The chemistry between Cassie and Erin was amazing and definitely believable! This is a very steamy book, which is sometimes a little harder to find in sapphic romances. I really liked how much bi rep there was in this book and how there was no biphobia. This was a pretty quick read and was so fun and exciting to read. It absolutely does not hurt that the cover is amazing! This was the first age gap romance I've read, so I wasn't sure going in how much that aspect was going to work for me. I was a little worried that the power dynamic between Erin and Cassie was going to be unbalanced, but that ended up not being an issue at all. I really loved how self-assured and confident Cassie was and how she helped Erin go for what she wanted in life. Given the premise and the first half of the book, I was a little worried that the building of Cassie and Erin's relationship was going to be neglected in favour for steamy scenes. While there were many steamy scenes, the author did a great job showing why Cassie and Erin would work together long-term, not just in a friends-with-benefits situation, especially in the second half of the book. I had a great time with this book and highly recommend to anyone looking for a steamy, age-gap, sapphic romance! Also, I may have screamed a little at how cute the epilogue was...

I LOVED THIS! It was SCORCHING, it was refreshing, it was superb! I think Wilsner crafted an absolute winner with Mistakes Were Made. The premise is too intriguing to refuse reading about and I think they delivered. Wilsner made sure that the forbidden-ness of Cassie and Erin's relationship drove the tension throughout the story and when they combusted, they blew up. I think the pacing here could have been a bit better, but I enjoyed the plot nonetheless. I enjoyed Cassie' bold demeanour. I don't mind someone a little brash and brave and think she stood out from many other characters to me. I also liked Cassie and Erin's goals complimented one another. Both were ambitious and I think that bit lent itself to the chemistry that was written incredibly well in this story.

Wilsner's hooked me and I am so ready for whatever they write next.

This age, gap romance, was one that I never expected. It was just such an amazing read, I was not expecting to love it this much, especially the romance, let’s not forget the steamy scenes, and let’s not forget Cassie and Erin’s automatic connection. I literally loved this book. It was a huge page Turner, it got to the point very quickly, and I love and romance, novel, or a book in general, that I get to the point.

We meet Cassie, who is a senior in college, and she decides to hit up a bar a little further away than normal from her college, just to get away. She meets Erin, and automatically, the book went 0 to 1000. But there is a small problem, Erin is her new best friend mom, and THAT another issue all together. But I loved how everything turned out towards the end, and how Cassie and Erin evolved in their relationship. I am still not over how much I loved this book.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

[author:Meryl Wilsner|18765010] has managed to create engaging characters and a believable and mature plot in [book:Mistakes Were Made|60628339]. Age gap romances often make the younger person immature and annoying, but if anything, Cassie acted more maturely at times.

I'm not sure if this book is considered a romance or an erotic romance. I'd guess the latter, but I've rarely read an erotic romance that was so good outside of the sex scenes. Wilsner made me hope Erin and Cassie found some way to be together because their relationship was so dynamic.

I would have given it another star except there were times when I thought Cassie's dialogue seemed out of character. Some of her uncouth word choices made my cringe a bit. Yes, she had a poor upbringing, but that doesn't necessarily translate to poor speaking skills. She'd shown herself to be a brilliant young woman with an astrophysics degree. These instances took me away from the story.

I'll still recommend the book to friends.

Oh boy, his book is HOT!

One thing about me is I'll always be a sucker for forbidden/secret relationships, and this one definitely hit the mark. The chemistry between Cassie and Erin was immediate from the first chapter. The amount of steam in this book has definitely raised the bar for contemporary romance. I want all my contemporary romances to be this piping hot.

But the sexual tension wasn't all this book had going for it. I loved the subtle ways Cassie and Erin made efforts to know and understand each other, especially given that they're in such different places of life. This book does such a good job of complicating their relationship from the start, from Cassie able to equate in her mind that it's okay to sleep with her friend's mom because Parker slept with her boyfriend to Erin finding herself after a divorce and the tense relationship she has with her daughter, who happens to be one of Cassie's best friends.

Overall this was such a great read, and I can't wait to see what Meryl Wilsner comes out with next!

O. M. Wow... This book was so hot! When Erin and Cassie meet in a bar and connect for, what they think, will be a one night stand, both are shocked the next morning to find out that Erin is Cassie's friend's mom. The two try to keep their distance, but are drawn together. This is a steamy romance, one that should be enjoyed every Fourth of July holiday.

Mistakes were made is a lovely sapphic romcom featuring Erin, a buttoned up MILF casually escaping the lonely portions of Parents Weekend at a local dive. Also running from the tedious familial celebration Cassie, a confident grin soaked senior looking for a quick hookup. The two spot each other across the dimly lit bar and are soon tumbling in the backseat of Erin’s rental. Both chalk it up to a one off romp and joke somewhat easily over their distance in age. Assuming they never see each other again. Only problem is Cassie’s new freshman friend invites her to brunch with her mother and Erin is the parent in question sitting at the table.

I’m usually not a fan of age gap romances, especially such pronounced ones, but these two lovable bi disasters won me over.

I could’ve done without the gratuitous miscommunication trope. So many of their issues could’ve easily been solved with a conversation, but where is the fun in that?

Would definitely recommend this if you’re into a fun romcom with blush inducing smut.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

- MISTAKES WERE MADE is a joy. It's what I think of as the best kind of romance novel: sweet, spicy, and thoughtful. It also kind of felt like you were right there watching the drama unfold with your bowl of popcorn.
- I loved how Wilsner built the central relationship not just through physical intimacy but also emotional intimacy. You really get to watch them grow together in a way that feels authentic.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• age gap sapphic romance
• interesting characters
• easy writing

I wanted a little more substance but overall this was an enjoyable read!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

I went back and forth on this book. It started out really strong (and super spicy!), then somewhere in the middle it sort of dragged, but then toward the end it picked back up again! Ultimately I settled on four stars because there were a ton of things I enjoyed about this story.

I enjoyed the characters of Cassie and Erin quite a bit. I love experiencing the growth and self-discovery of characters when they're coming out of unfulfilling relationships or marriages. Erin was smart, confident, but also vulnerable and conflicted when it came to her feelings toward Cassie. Cassie was spunky and cocky, but also occasionally needed to feel protected and cared for. Both women provided for the other the things which they lacked.

I found Erin's daughter, Parker, to be a little annoying initially, but it felt like she matured as the story went on and I also came to appreciate her.

This book is super sexy and the chemistry between the characters if off the chart! I worried initially that the plot was going to be overwhelmed by all the intimate scenes, and there were a few instances where this did happen, but it wasn't as bad as I feared.

I will say that the plot in the second half of the book didn't feel as cohesive and well-organized as the beginning. There were times when it seemed the author was maybe just putting things in to fill out the book pages. The ending was fine, and while I maybe hoped for something a little different, it was nice enough.

I also appreciated that Cassie wasn't under / barely eighteen, which I feel happens a lot in age-gap, taboo reads and that really turns me off from a book.

Where can I begin? This book kept me motivated to read since the very first word. I loved every second. I love that they went after exactly what they wanted and didn't really care what people thought. I feel like this is a good subject to write about because it can be really difficult to really make decisions based on what you actually want, instead of what you "should" want. Erin and Cassie were fabulous in my opinion.

This book was so good! I fell in love with each of the characters and the author’s writing. This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! This was the first book I read by Meryl Wilsner but it will not be the last.

This book was so freaking cute. There was, of course, some angst, but for the most part it was pretty smooth sailing. The book was a fun read, with many funny parts, and I genuinely enjoyed it!!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. This was not for me...like really not for me. I will not rate it low because of my view as the book was well written..as much as I read but the level of... just not for me. I may not have read the synopsis right before requesting this one.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars. I’ve been hearing about MILFBook for about a year now and I have to say, it lived up to the hype. Meryl’s freshman debut was excellent, and their sophomore was its equal. The sex scenes were inventive and hot, the characters fleshed out well, and the ending was super sweet. The plot points weren’t the most surprising, but the MCs and their internal reactions to those plot points kept me engaged until the end. Free ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.