Now that I have read both of this authors (current) books I can safely say that I enjoy their writing style.
I liked that their characters can just be who ever they are without some huge coming out story, it’s refreshing. I enjoy the different perspectives this author gives, not the usual American stuff I’m used to.
As for this story specifically, I liked how the MC was written. She was approachable and I understood, for the most part, why she reacted the way she did. I don’t give out 4 stars often, I hoard them, but this one won me over.

This has everything you could want from a Sapphic age-gap office romance: hot boss, secret relationship, and a sassy best friend!

Emma is a fun protagonist with a heart of gold. And I LOVE her best friend Polly! Honestly, I liked all the characters except the love interest. It seemed like I never got to know anything about her outside of work except that she's hot and can't cook. Still, the other characters were fantastic. Solidly enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Okay. I don’t think I’ve EVER read a book that has had me so conflicted. I both loved, and also hated this novel. First: the Love: This book is hysterical. I loved reading about the municipal office politics, and the side characters were so endearing. The plot was engaging right from be beginning, and there wasn’t a moment where I felt like the book really dragged, despite being very pastoral rather than focused on the romance.
NOW. The Hate. I hated the romance in this book. I felt like the foundation of this relationship was super toxic and both parties engaged in behaviors that were manipulative at one point or another. Also, no spoilers, but I wasn’t a big fan of the inclusion of Tash’s character. I got confused, given what was happening and how far in to the book we were, and then it just felt unnecessary to me.
I am so conflicted, because loving someone in the closet IS the reality for many many people, but even still, I felt like some moments between the characters were toxic.
Anyway, Im still really glad for having read this book, and overall I enjoyed the experience. I’d give it a 3.5, and I’m thankful to NetGalley for the chance to check it out!

Fantastic book, for real. Love the age/gap and workplace romance trope, it’s always a crowd pleaser. This novel was a joy to read, the touching scenes were gentle and sweet, the spicy scenes were, well spicy and the characters naturally flowed through then like it was a realistic romance. Which is a refreshing view point - this wasn’t some romantic comedy style novel, there of course was build up, plot, angst and drama but those are pretty common in any relationship. Bridget and Emma are an adorable couple. I would have loved to get a little more about Bridget’s past but this was about her accepting herself as she is now. The supporting characters were nice - the supportive best friend and coworkers were more than just plot devices.

Book Review 📚
Perks of Office by Liz Rain - 2/5 ⭐

My first review from NetGalley that's below 3 stars 😭

I wanted to love this book so badly, the cover really grabbedy attention with the title as well I thought I was gonna be sold. But unfortunately I just could not get into the story at all. On top of the story being "boring" I really REALLY disliked the characters. Emma was so predictable and normal!

Rain was able to write amazingly but I genuinely felt like I had already read this story and I knew what was happening. I couldn't get in to it at all. I refuse to DNF a book no matter how bad it is, so I stuck it out. On a positive note Rain has a skill in writing but I hope she goes in a different direction with her next book and a completely different genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

"Perks of Office" by Liz Rain is an absolute masterpiece of a book, filled with fun characters and a charming storyline that kept me captivated. The MC’s, Emma and Bridget, are a perfect match, and their chemistry practically leaps off the pages.

Emma, the lovable but slightly hapless office worker, is incredibly relatable, and I couldn't help but root for her from the very beginning. Her instant crush on Bridget, her powerful, older and attractive boss, sets the stage for a rollercoaster of emotions that unfold with flair. The author crafted Emma's character with such finesse that you can't help but feel for her as she navigates the complexities of her feelings.

However, the real magic lies in the supporting characters who add layers of humor and charm to the narrative. The easy banter and wit shared among them had me in stitches on more than one occasion. Each character brings something unique to the story, enhancing the reading experience and making the world of the book feel vibrant and alive.

But it's the relationship between Bridget and Emma that truly steals the show. Their age-gap romance, woven with unrequited desire, sets the stage for a scintillating tale of love and longing. The slow burn of their attraction is palpable, and as the sexual tension simmers, you'll find yourself turning pages faster to see how it all unfolds.

Their journey from boss and employee to confidantes and lovers is beautifully written and endearing. Bridget's fall from grace and subsequent reliance on Emma for comfort adds depth to their bond and offers the perfect opportunity for their connection to blossom into something more meaningful. The tender moments between Bridget and Emma had my heart aching with joy, and the steamy scenes were tastefully and sensually written, adding just the right amount of spice to the story.

"Perks of Office" is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. It's a delightful mix of romance, humor, and emotion, making it a must-have for any romance book lover. Liz Rain's writing style is engaging, and she has created a world that draws you in and makes you wish you were a part of it.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a book I would happily keep on my shelf to re-read whenever I need a dose of heartwarming romance and a good laugh. If you're looking for a light-hearted, age-gap lesbian office romance with a healthy dose of sexual tension, "Perks of Office" is the perfect choice. Prepare to fall in love with Emma, Bridget, and the entire cast of characters, and get ready for a delightful reading experience that will leave you smiling long after the last page.

Never really been a fan of the age-gap romance, but there was something about Emma and Bridget's story that really resonated with me. It was probably the work place setting but also Emma was just a great character. Plus, its based in Australia which was a fascinating look into their political system.

Thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was a very well written and enjoyable read. The two leads had a lot of chemistry - I especially liked the main character Emma who was very relatable and likeable. The romantic storyline was well paced with plenty of anticipation and just the right amount of angst. It was nice to see something set in Australia for a change. Having more insight into Bridget’s point of view would have improved the story but I still enjoyed it very much.

This is the first book I have read by Liz Rain and what a debut novel!
Written in the POV main character Emma, who is funny, kind and also a little sad and her inner monologue and observations had me amused.
I thought this might have been a light hearted romance but there was more to this story then I expected and it was good.
I loved the Brissie vibe running through the story too.
Just saying I’d love a Bridget sequel.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60811267

I absolutely LOVED this book. The writing was so playful, all the thoughts inside Emma's head were hilarious. This was a total delight to read!

Emma Ives gets a sudden promotion in her low level government job to go work as the manager of a small, unimportant electorate office with a grand total of one other employee. They see their boss Bridget O'Keefe only once a week. That's probably a good thing, since Emma instantly develops a bumbling crush on her and goes totally stupid around her. One night after a political scandal, Bridget turns to Emma for help, and all of a sudden Emma's crush fantasies are coming true.

This book was SO much fun to read. Being in Emma's head was a delightful experience, I loved both her and Bridget, their chemistry, and their banter.

I love the office romance trope, the age gap, all the tropes used in this book. HOWEVER. I really feel the need to point out that this relationship was VERY unhealthy in the way it played out on the page. There is a point where Emma admits she knows almost nothing about Bridget. I feel like this book would've sat a hundred times better if there'd been a little more "getting to know you" in the middle. Just think how this story would be perceived if Bridget were a man. Just saying. Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. It's just something I felt needed to be said 😂

Despite that, I really enjoyed this book, the writing, and the characters. I definitely recommend you check this out if you enjoy age gap sapphic office romances. It was a hoot!

[Thanks to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Emma Ives is a diligent electorate officer office worker. She takes a promotion putting her in charge of an office in her own neighborhood which is run down and looked down upon. Politician Bridget O’Keefe MP represents the area and shows up every Friday for appearances and to see to things in her district. The rest of the week she works out of her political offices in Brisbane. Emma is instantly smitten with her new boss.

This is really Emma’s story. She cleans up the office, learns how to make it functional, enjoys her two staff/co-workers and tries to avoid Bridgetts chief of staff Mel. Bridgette turns to Emma for comfort after a political mis-step and things don’t go smoothly. Emma is a hoot and half as she tries to figure out her job, friends and a potential new relationship. I think one of my favorite elements of the story is how very Australian it is with phrases and word use. Emma’s descriptions and streams of thought had me laugh more than once. But the downside is Bridget remains a mystery. Her feelings and emotions are only shown through Emma’s eyes and it is limiting making it hard to call this a traditional romance.

I did enjoy this short novel (under 200 pages) and found it amusing. The writing style is fun and pacing good especially as this is a debut novel. It was originally released May 2022 and I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. I am leaving a voluntary review.

I first listened to the audiobook, and any audiobook narrated by Cat Gould is one I know I will enjoy. This one didn’t disappoint! It’s an age-gap office romance that needed to remain secret, leaving one feeling bad about herself and the situation. Emma still had bad feelings about a former relationship, which led to angst related to things going on concerning work related political happenings with other personalities.

Emma was a delightful character, an innocent soul who happened into the job of as the boss of a small government office. She fell for Bridget, the Minister that she reported to. Things became scandalous as Emma became the person Bridget looked to for support. I loved how the relationship developed and enjoyed the sexual tension.

There are so many wonderful characters that added to my enjoyment of this book. The story was just plain fun and enjoyable to read. I always love stories with passion and was very pleased with the nice love scenes and, happily, happily, the HEA!
This was a debut novel and I’m very impressed with this brilliant author.

Characters so fun to read I hope there's a follow-up story in the works

I loved most of this story and wanted so much to love all of it. There's plenty of humor, drama, some political scandal and romance but the highlight for me was the cast of characters. Emma is awkward and funny, her best friend Polly is the ultimate ride or die bff; they and Emma's various office mates get enough scenes on the page so we can get to know them all fairly well when Emma's at work or away from it. The other main character, Bridget, gets lots of scene time as well but it's always with Emma so she's more of a mystery beyond what Emma experiences with her and assumes about her. You get a sense of Bridget away from the office setting but out in public she's at events in her role as a politician so it's up for debate how much of what we see of her there is authentic (if anything) and how much is the public face of a seasoned politician; also the book is told from Emma's point of view which further limits what we learn about Bridget. The story is set in and around Brisbane Australia and there's an abundance of Aussie slang to remind you of this but it's not difficult to translate in context; the slang definitely adds flavor to the story. The ending felt abrupt and rushed compared to the first part of the book which left me wondering how much was cut from the latter half of the book for whatever reason prior to publication; in my opinion, the latter half - and story as a whole - could have been longer to maintain balance and a more harmonious flow in the story pacing and plot trajectories. The world of this story is one I'd like to read again if the author chooses to write a follow-up story set in the future in order to revisit these characters and see what they're up to down the road; there is alot of material that could be mined in an additional story including offering up Bridget's perspective to fill in some gaps from this story and to allow the reader to see what changes Bridget's representation of this district in the political sphere are brought to the area for better or worse. I appreciate the real and somewhat rundown feel her district has in the story and putting her in it at more events open to the public (rather than closed or more controlled events and environments) would make for interesting reading as would reading about the progression of Emma and Bridget's relationship. I look forward to seeing if a sequel comes to pass and will happily read it and anything else this author publishes in the future.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

an office romance with a difference

emma was offered a new position in another office one that was just around the corner from where she lived plus she would be in charge so it came with more money

so she took the job and then she met high-powered politician Bridget O’Keefe, and her life was never the same again....

an interesting read that i did wonder how it would all turn out as well all know the pit falls of an office romance

a very quick read and was impressed with how the author pulled you into the storyline and the characters with it being a short story..

This is a really adorable age-gap romance and I'm truly impressed that this is Liz Rain's debut novel. Her ability to write such a great story in first-person is really excellent! I loved the snippets of humor from not only our main character but from the supporting cast. I look forward to reading more from this fantastic writer!