I loved this book! I love the world and community that Amy has created in this series and it was a pleasure to spend more time there with these characters and their story. Amy's writing is smart and funny and real, and this book was another great read.

Loved this installment of this series! As ever, I don’t know LA well but these books are so specific to LA in a way that makes me feel like a part of the city.
I love the specificity of Clementine’s challenges with her friends and her (truly horrible) brother. And Chloe! I loved Chloe!
Highly recommend

GREG sucks. I love that we went back to the friendship group and we see how Nina and Ari are getting on more. I love how it's intertwined so well. The tropes were back Fake dating and one bed love. Did not love the miscommunication but overall enjoyed. I liked how Clementine was building new friendships as she let herself be more herself and explained to her people she felt she was losing so they end up back on the same page.

**SPOILERS** I really like the author but this was not for me. After reading book description it sounded like this would be dual pov. It was not and was read from Clementine’s view the entire time. The chemistry between characters was minimal to me. Around 65-70% they have sex with ZERO lead up. It was just like oop’s we’re bored. Then of course the third act break up follows immediately. The only reason this is getting 3 stars is because I like Chole’s friend group. Clementines friends seemed awful and she should have just left them behind.

On Her Terms is a delightfully humerous rom-com full of very real emotions. The story is told from the perspective of Clementine who identifies as bisexual but who has only ever been in one relationship with a guy. However, she knows that she is not interested in a conventional relationship, marriage or kids. So, when her boyfriend starts making noises about wanting just these things, she breaks things off with him in favour of seeking an alternate future.

Into this scene walks Chloe who is also definitely not interested in any conventional sort of relationship, in fact, she doesn’t believe that she is relationship material at all so she’s not interested. However, she is sick of standing out as the only single in her friendship group and decides that she needs a fake date to take to the upcoming celebrity wedding of two of the members of her friendship group. So, when she comes across Clem who is being harassed by a group of guys outside the local gay-friendly bar, she rescues her and they end up getting a drink together.

Before long, Clem finds herself sucked into a fake relationship proposed by Chloe to get Chloe through the upcoming wedding and Clem through the upcoming surprise anniversary party for her parents. Once those two events are over then they can go their separate ways. Well, at least that’s the plan. However, they end up finding themselves on a witty journey full of surprises and personal growth and suddenly the relationship is seeming to be quite as ‘fake’ as intended. Can the two women overcome their fears to realise that, just maybe, they are meant to be together long term.

And to say that this book as a non-conventional ending would be an understatement. The perfect non-conventional ending for a couple of MCs who were never interested in having conventional relationships to start with. I loved it!

I am grateful to Amy Spalding, the publisher and NetGally for the eARC copy of On Her Terms. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one and the fake dating tropes is one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the dialogue and found myself rooting for the characters. This whole series of books has been fun and enjoyable and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Red Alert: nobody does romcoms like Amy Spalding! I truly love the Out in Hollywood series, and I think this might be my favorite one yet! I was so happy that we were back with the whole friend group and got to spend a significant amount of time with them.

Both love interests in this book were so well-written that I think I actually fell in love with each of them a little bit. I was definitely rooting for them to find success and happiness.

This has been true in the other Out in Hollywood books as well, but this was such a validating read. Some of the characters’ (specifically Clementine’s) growth, development, and struggles are things that I have experienced. It’s always a positive to feel seen by reading similar situations on the pages of a book.

I hope the author keeps writing these books because I will forever keep reading them!!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

4.5 stars

Amy Spalding did it again! This was a sweet and spicy fake dating rom com set in her world of queer women in the film industry. Clementine perfectly embodies the confidence of having learned who you are by your mid-thirties while still having so much more to learn about yourself and who you'll become. I have to admit, there were times when Chloe really got on my nerves, but overall, I really liked this book and enjoyed getting to see characters from the other Out in Hollywood books.

On Her Terms will be out February 25, 2025

Perfectly cosy fake dating book.
I feel it’s a bit of a shame we only get stuck in one main’s first person POV, but it’s an ok place to be.
What I like best about this book is the friend group. So lovely, warm and welcoming. There’s some repetitiveness in this book, sometimes even from one line to the next, that almost feels like bad editing. It is isn’t bad enough for me to dislike it, just some missed opportunities for it to be better.
All in all perfectly cosy and I wouldn’t mind reading more about this friend group.

No one fake dates and then accidentally falls in love like us gays.

Clementine is a budding baby gay when she meets the wise and experienced Chloe at a bar. The two exchange numbers, which leads Chloe to propose a fake dating scheme. She'll help Clementine--a bisexual who is coming off a 20-year relationship with a man and therefore is new to the gay dating world--learn the ropes about dating in the lesbian community. Meanwhile, Clementine will be Chloe's date at a series of events leading up to (and at) her friends' wedding, so all her partnered friends leave her alone.

Of course, while fake dating, Chloe and Clementine spend lots of time together and feelings develop. Unfortunately, neither is known for their communication skills, and they don't do the best job of expressing these thoughts to one another. Complicating things is that Chloe's friend group includes Clem's boss, Phoebe. (If you've read any of Spalding's Out of Hollywood series, you'll recognize characters from other books, including Nina, Ari, and Sadie.)

The strength here is Clem and Chloe's slowly growing chemistry and their witty banter. It's a wonderfully realistic exploration of not just queer relationships, but queer friendships as well. Chloe's friend group is one any gay could relate to, and the book stresses how important these friendships are to those who need a found family. Chloe's focus on her issues with her own (straight) friends was harder: not that they were straight, at all, but the emphasis on not wanting to get married, have kids, and the fact that she was growing apart from her friends was covered ad nauseam. At first, it was nice to see a book exploring these issues--the whole idea is that neither Chloe nor Clem want the "typical" relationship experience. But Clem's repetition of this fact was a bit much.

Spalding does an excellent job looking at the nuances of coming out later in life and treats Clem's bisexuality quite well. She also touches on topics such as plus size relationships and difficult families. Clem's brother is absolutely awful, but the way Chloe handles him: oh my gosh, I would have fallen in love with her, too.

So, yes, there's a lot going on here, but it's all handled deftly. With the exception of Clem's storyline getting rather repetitive, this is a really cute romance, full of diverse characters, friendships, and a sweet romance.

I really liked Clementine as a main character. I enjoyed her perspective as someone embracing their sexuality later in life and trying to navigate dating women (dating in general) after being with one person for almost two decades. I liked her growth and the way her character developed. And I liked the way the story resolved.

The one thing I didn’t like: Greg. Her brother was such an asshole who was constantly rude and lacked social skills. And everyone blew it off as like “Oh, that’s just Greg.” He got called out in the end but it wasn’t enough for me. I wanted it to be a stronger call out that truly put him in his place.

Amy Spalding’s writing style is awesome. I love the characters she writes about in her stories! I instantly over Nina and Ari in ‘For her consideration’ so it was going to be hard to beat them in the character comparisons, but Chloe and Clem are right up there with them! A great addition to the out of Hollywood series :)

Thoroughly enjoyed it! Amy Spalding writes such a fun, engaging novel. The characters are relatable, and I loved Clementine's development throughout. The plot was engaging and well-written. Can't wait for Amy's next book!

On Her Terms is a delightful and funny romp through the fake girlfriend trope. Treating the trope with fresh eyes, Spalding manages both an insightful coming out story and a clever take on the idea of fake girlfriends falling in love.

Clementine is newly single after splitting up from her long term boyfriend. She’s always known she liked women, but is new to the lesbian scene and bewildered by the different social mores. When a beautiful, confident lesbian propositions her to be fake partners to deal with the expectations of various friends and family, it seems like a gift to get her through her awkward early days of dating once again.

Chloe is confident, outgoing and a party favourite, who clearly states her preference to fly solo. But when she spots the voluptuous woman in a lesbian bar, one she’s admired at her friend’s work parties, an opportunity arrises to solve several problems with one pretty woman.

This is book three of the Out in Hollywood series, following For Her Consideration and At Her Service. I haven’t read the previous two books, and honestly, didn’t even know it was part of a series until I did some research to write this review. It certainly didn’t require me to have read the others prior to reading this one.

Spalding’s dialogue is snappy and reveals the characters so well I felt I knew them by the end of the book. There are a number of supporting characters, but Spalding introduces them so well that I had no trouble remembering who they were. Their distinct voices could be heard clearly in their interactions and dialogue. No mean feat.

What really delighted about this book was the insight Spalding brought to a character coming out later in life, and from reading the author’s blurb at the front of the book, this was an intention from the start. It rang true for me and was also a lovely trip down memory lane.

I highly recommend this book. A joy to read.

ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.

You had me at fake dating and then topped it off with just one bed! I loved this story of 30 something women coming to terms with life, love, work and family. Clementine has made a big change in her life without really telling anyone what is going on with her. Chloe also doesn’t like to let anyone know about any actual emotions. A great cast of friends and one horrible brother, cute cats and dogs made this a great book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this DRC.
#OnHerTerms #NetGalley

I hate to say it, but I really disliked this book. It seems as though every book in this series was worse than the last. The main couple of the book had 0 chemistry, and our narrator, Clementine, was so negative and annoying. If I had a dollar for every time she mentioned her ex boyfriend, l'd be rich. Her love interest, Chloe, was so incredibly condescending about Clementine being a "baby gay". If someone called me that, l'a actually spit in their face. The only reason I didn't give it 1-star is because I didn't totally dislike the supporting characters, and because there was Diet Coke worship (rightfully so).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

As a fan of Amy Spalding’s writing, I adore this one. My favorite in this series will always be the first, I’m afraid, Nina and Ari live rent free in my head, but I like Clem and Chloe a lot. They are cute and I quite like the themes of this novel. The coming out later in life and the fake dating are well executed and I LOVE that their relationship goal is not marry and have children (it’s nothing wrong in wanting to marry and have children, but it’s refreshing to see other prospectives!).

Thank you Netgalley and the published for the arc.

The third book in the Out in Hollywood series is a sapphic romance. The found family element is strong in this one, and it’s one of my favorite tropes! Also fake dating, coming out to family/friends, and brunch. Wait, is brunch a trope? It should be!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for On Her Terms to come out February 25, 2025.

No es necesario haber leído los libros anteriores.

Este libro no era para mí; lamentablemente, no conecté ni con Clementine ni con Chloe, y tampoco logré conectar con la historia. Aunque tiene buenos elementos y, en general, es entretenido, simplemente no fue para mi.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On Her Terms is a very cute Sapphic romance!

The MC was very relatable and she struggles with not being "queer enough", I feel like that's such a common thing for people who come out later in life and to see it represented was very nice. I also found very refreshing to read a romance book where marriage and kids are not the end goal of the relationship. I need more of this!!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc