Oh this book as just SO gosh darn good!! I could not put it down. Claire Wilder, you know how to write a darling book. I loved the main characters and their sweet story.

𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 by 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 is book two in the 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚 series and is an age gap, grumpy sunshine romance where Raph is the sunshine and Lana is the older woman.

While he is finishing up his doctorate in English Lit Raph takes a summer job as a nanny for Lana’s two daughters. At first Lana thinks he’s little more than a flirt but there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye.

Lana is a single parent raising two lively daughters while trying to ignore the feelings developing between her and Raph. Lana knows Raph plans to leave at the end of summer so she’s trying to protect her girls as well as her own heart.

Raph is a swoon worthy book boyfriend who is charming, thoughtful and supports Lana without being overbearing. While he is instantly attracted to Lana he takes the time to find out who she is and what’s she’s really like.

I really enjoyed this reverse age gap love story of 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 and found the slow burn romance to be so satisfying. I also really enjoyed the pace and how the story unfolded and I found the characters likeable and relatable. I will definitely be reading more books in this series!

* Small town
* Age gap (she’s 14 years older)
* Grumpy sunshine (he’s the sunshine)
* He falls first
* Forced proximity

This was a GREAT story to listen to! AWESOME narration! Great main characters. The plot was easy to find. The story was engaging and easy to follow. Will be purchasing this book. Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for allowing me to listen and review this story.

4 STARS!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book!! It had me hooked from page one! I couldn’t put this down. I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a first for me by this author but it will not be my last!!

Good age gap romance set in small-town British Columbia👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

Things I liked most about the novel:

--Two POVs of principal characters Raphael and Lana. I got just as much, maybe more, of Raphael's perspective on his attraction and emotions as I did from older, divorced mother of two Lana;

--The age gap and manny tropes;

--Raphael's openness and patience with Lana, and his energy and creative fun with Lanka's girls;

--Lana's daughters, Aurora (5) and Nova (8). Realistically portrayed, and the glue that holds the couple together until Raphael and particularly reluctant Lana actually start acknowledging their feelings to each other;

--Level and frequency of steam in the relationship. I liked that the steam and build up to it are definitely a factor, but in no way dominated the story;

--Secondary characters are present, developed just enough to ground the family and Raphael in the community. Seen, involved, but leave the bulk of the action with Lana, Raphael and the girls;

--The turn Lana's work life takes and her ex Mike's rehabilitation. And that Lana was happy and proud to be a restaurant server, chucked in her law career to do something that made her happier;

--Cute ending; and

--Canadian setting.

What I liked less:

--A bit long, especially the introspection and Lana's dilly dallying over whether they should get more involved.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This was a sweet read, but in all honesty there was potential for this to be so much more and it fell flat for me.

I was also expecting a hell of a lot more angst and conflict but it just wasn’t there and to be honest I know this is a reverse age gap romance however for half this book all the FMC does is whine on about their age difference, I wanted to see not only her internal conflict with this but also how she combatted this. they were not likeable at all i was more annoyed than amused. this is probably a pretty okay book i just didn't really care about it i'm sorry

thank you to NetGalley for having this available to read!

I was kind of bored tbh.. the main characters were super annoying and I did not relate to them at all.. but it was definitely cute at times! Just fell a little flat for me.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were funny and lovable and I really enjoyed reading their story. I would absolutely recommend!

Given how much I love an older woman/younger man (reverse age gap) story it shouldn't be a surprise that I adored Give & Take. But actually, I was initially a little apprehensive. I really like Claire Wilder so I knew the quality would be good, however, I prefer my books as child-free as possible and am not a fan of the nanny trope at all, hence my few reservations. I'm pleased to say Raph's sunny disposition just blew right through them.

I really enjoyed being transported from my grey wintery reality to a wonderful seaside small-town existence full of beach visits and sunshine where nothing terrible happens, who wouldn't?! Raphael was a delight, he's so perfect it is kind of unreal but I'm ok with that - I'm not necessarily looking for reality in my fiction! I thought he was so warm and thoughtful, so careful about not overstepping but always there. I liked Lana, her attempts to hold herself in check, especially when she's trying not to laugh at Raph and the girl's antics, felt so relatable and her decisions felt brave and grounded.

Give & Take was like a shot of much-needed dopamine and vitamin D to get me through the winter. It made me warm and fuzzy and happy!

Many thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.

From the very first chapter I was completely hooked! The author paints each scene so vividly that it felt like I was watching a movie unfold. The characters are not only relatable but also infused with humor, making them incredibly entertaining. I found myself racing through the pages, unable to put the book down!

While it is a romance novel, I appreciated how the story also dives into themes of personal growth, trust, and self-love. The slow burn was there and ultimately so rewarding. Raph had me swooning from the beginning! He was my favorite character. And the girls were too adorable, I wish I could give them a hug.

This was my first time reading a book from this author, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that beautifully combines romance with meaningful life lessons.

Reverse age-gap romances aren't typically what I read but I've been seeing a lot of buzz around this book and thought I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful this book was. If you enjoy grumpy x sunshine and a sweet but still steamy love story this book is for you.

I really liked both characters and thought they were believable. Rafe and Lana were a slow burn which only added to the angst and mutual pining. The tender moments between these two were so sweet, really melted the heart. I just loved how gone Rafe was for Lana. Lana does take a rather long time to give Rafe a chance. However I still found these two adorable and lovely to read about.

Pacing was a bit slow for my taste but otherwise I enjoyed the writing.

A great, romantic romance.

*Give & Take* by Claire Wilder truly took me by surprise in the best way possible. From the very first page, I was hooked by the rich, emotional depth of the story. This isn’t just a romance—it's a story about vulnerability, personal growth, and learning to embrace both giving and receiving love. Wilder’s writing feels so real and effortless, pulling you into the characters' lives and making you feel like you're right there with them, navigating the ups and downs of their journey.

What really struck me was how well Wilder developed the characters. They’re not perfect, but that’s exactly what makes them so relatable. I found myself rooting for them every step of the way, especially as they learned to trust, open up, and support one another. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve was a true joy. The way the story balances moments of humor with deeper emotional moments felt so natural and kept me turning pages long into the night.

What really made *Give & Take* special for me was how it made me reflect on my own relationships and what it means to give without expecting anything in return. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of both generosity and self-acceptance. This book left me with a full heart and a reminder of how important human connection truly is. I couldn’t recommend it more—whether you’re a fan of contemporary romance or simply love a story with heart, *Give & Take* is a must-read. Additionally , could I ever say no to an age gap story….

It took me quite a while to get into the story.
Raphael was cute but a bit childish, but he got better as the book progressed. For Lana, it was even longer. I couldn't relate to her, and she was almost annoying.

It was a nice and enjoyable read, although it felt incredibly long.

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

Immediately drawn in and loving the story. I need to read the first book now! Heartfelt and perfect for any time of the year! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.