For a relatively short work, Naima Simone has created a book with smoking hot passion and incredible angst. Ms. Simone skillfully breathes new life into the “loving my best friend’s girlfriend” trope and her narrative is incendiary. When India learns that her long-time boyfriend is cheating on her, she finds herself at the home of Asa, his best friend. She is heartbroken and angry, feeling that Asa is a part of the deception. He had to have known that Jessie was not being faithful. Their encounter does not play out the way she expected. Asa has loved India from a distance for all the years he has known her and by the time she leaves his home, she too feels the unspoken attraction. They reconnect two years later when she returns home to work at the local elementary school where his niece is a student. This time around they both acknowledge the attraction, if only privately in their thoughts. Jessie continues to be a barrier. as how can Asa turn his back on his best friend by acting on his feelings? India is accustomed to being the one left behind, so she does not expect Asa to chose her!! This situation is complicated by the fact that all three of the main characters are likable and the tension is palpable. As noted, this is a short story, but I would have loved an epilogue to tie it up. However, I completely enjoyed this passionate story.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for an ARC of this title. *

*Thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for an ARC of this title.*

I mean.. I'm not a child of the 80's but... I was/am a big fan of the song Jessie's Girl... so I snapped up this title for no other reason than that. Luckily, because it's Naima Simone, it was also a wonderful little novella to read.

This couple meets up a few years after they have last seen each other.. when India was Asa's best friend's girlfriend. Now she works at his niece's school and all the feelings he repressed back then come roaring back to the surface.

It was quick and steamy and full of thrills. I enjoyed it so much and it was a great palette cleanser after some less than wonderful books. It is worth the read and I don't think you can go wrong with Jessie's Girl.

4 Stars
3 on the spice scale.

TW: Death of a sibling

I have no idea how the author for so much angst into such a short book but I'm not complaining. I enjoyed it. Both main characters, India and Asa were so likeable you couldn't help but root for them.

There was really only one thing that kept throwing me off in this book:
The book starts with her saying, "I thought you were my friend." but skips to two years later and that wrote multiple times that India thought he didn't like her and was just tolerating her for the sake of his friend...so what's up with that?

Other than that I love how this story unfolded.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While the sexual tension was hot and incredibly sensual, it was a bit too erotic for me. The hero likes being in control and takes his lust for India a bit too far in my opinion considering their history. Overall, a decent steamy, second chance novel.

I really enjoyed this steamy, fun , angst and forbidden best- friends ex romance. India and Asa's connection just bounce right of the pages and Naima Simone's writing is absolutely beautiful.

Oh my, the angst radiated off the page with forbidden longing! Asa and India most definitely had a connection but both recognize the barriers in their way, and accept them, somewhat. The trouble is, once they’ve re-connected, they can’t stay apart. Their chemistry is off the charts, intermingling with the feelings, and permeate you right along with them. A series of missteps and false starts only solidify that these two belong together. It takes a leap of faith and some true love confessions before these two finally have their HEA <3

If there’s one thing that I can always count on in a Naima Simone book, it’s characters who know how to pine. And also some serious levels of “If I can’t have them, I may actually die.” Jessie’s Girl was horny, angsty and delightful. Asa is catapulted into single guardianship of his niece Rose, after his sister dies. His niece continues to get in trouble, so imagine his surprise when he heads to the school to talk to the principal one day and comes face to face with the only woman who has held his heart. The same one who dated his best friend for years. Jessie’s (ex) girl, India.

India and Asa are so wonderful. The way that India cares for Rose, and befriends her in her grief was so beautiful. I didn’t realize this was a novella until it was done, quickly, but it really was wonderful.

At this point, I will read anything Naima writes, so I can’t wait to read more from this series. Hopefully Jessie will get his HEA!

Another falling for your best freind's gf. This is done superbly well though. Lots of feelings, angst and conflicts. You can't help but feel sorry for the main hero.... The heroine is likable although you kind of wish that she will just wake up and fall for the hero! :) Really enjoy this book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.