Situationship by E.M. Wilson is one of those books that pulls you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish. It follows Teagan and Heath, two people who have been best friends for as long as they can remember. But their friendship has had its ups and downs—most notably, an attempt at a romantic relationship that ended badly, leaving Teagan bitter and hurt. The story is full of drama, emotion, and some seriously intense chemistry, and I couldn’t put it down.

Teagan and Heath come from two very different, but equally complicated, backgrounds. Teagan was adopted from Ethiopia by white parents, and her whole life she’s felt this intense pressure to live up to the idea of the “perfect adopted child.” She’s always trying to make her parents proud, feeling like she owes them for “saving” her from her past. On the other hand, Heath comes from a wealthy family but never quite measured up to his father’s expectations. He’s constantly seen as a disappointment for not following in his father’s footsteps, and it’s created a lot of tension in his life. These two have their own personal struggles that bring so much depth to their relationship and make them relatable and real.

The dynamic between Teagan and Heath is what really made this book stand out. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. Their connection is messy, complicated, and sometimes frustrating, but it’s so real and raw. Their past is full of misunderstandings and hurt, and watching them navigate those old wounds while trying to figure out if they can have a future together was honestly so satisfying.

One thing that I really appreciated about this book was how quickly it sucked me in. It’s a fast read with a lot of heart, and I didn’t find myself getting bored at all. The side characters were interesting, but honestly, I couldn’t stand their entire friend group. I loved how they each had their own dysfunctional relationships, but they didn’t detract from Teagan and Heath’s story—they just added a little extra drama.

Overall, Situationship is a fun, emotional contemporary romance with great chemistry, complex characters, and a storyline that will keep you turning the pages. Teagan and Heath’s journey from friends to something more is filled with ups and downs, but it’s so worth the read. If you’re into books with deep character development and lots of tension, this one’s definitely for you.

"Holy shit we have to break up" is the first sentence in this book. After reading that I knew I was hooked. Teagan is such a multifaceted lead. The only woman in a group of guys and in law school? She's who I aspire to be. Heath, in my opinion, is such a sweetheart. I enjoyed reading his chapters and about his relationship with his family. My only cons are the book was a tad too long and I wish the author delved a little deeper into Teagan and Heaths history. It's mentioned at the end and quickly wrapped up. The steam in the book is A++. Their chemistry was off the charts!

I enjoyed this book. Following the story of Teagan and Heath who have a rocky past but decide to embark on a situationship. Typical of the "no strings attached" trope until someone catches feelings. There were a few instances where some things seemed out of place in the story and could've been re-worked to be more cohesive. I would have liked a bit more development on the issues of the friend group and the taboo subject discussed. The one thing I disliked in this book was the phrase "not-so-little-man" - it was overused. Overall it was a great fast paced spicy read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the E-ARC!
Review also posted on Fable.

This book, Situationship, by E.M. Wilson was an easy and fun read. The story was the friends to lovers trope, It was a little spicier than I expected but I enjoyed most of it. The male POV was a bit awkward for me.

Giving this one 3.5 ⭐️

I really did enjoy it and it was an addicting read for sure. I will say the latter half of the book is SO much better than the first. The male POV was kinda cringy in places but I think that was due to word choice more than anything.. using words like “lit” and “bestie” and “my not- so- little-guy” over and over was… a choice…

But the ending really was unexpected and I think it’s okay for villain characters not have a come-to-Jesus moment so I appreciated how that was done.

Heath was hot and while the vocab was a big turn off, as a whole he was a very sweet MMC who loves his mom and is just a hurt human. Same thing for Teagan. Who they were in the beginning of the book and throughout didn’t actually change until they had a reckoning that could only be done together.. I really did enjoy this read! 💙

2.5⭐
2🌶️

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

First let's start with the positives.
I loved Teagan and thought her real life struggles were well done. Her experience as an adopted black woman in a white affluent world were really important. I actually think those things could have been hit on harder.

However, overall, there was just no reason to care about her being with Heath until it was too late. The "reveal" comes too far into the book that I had checked out by the time I got there. Like the ending was fine, but if the reveal came sooner then I think the end could have had more with the family stuff.

The spice was just average to me, a spicy reader. It didn't really add anything to the story a lot of the times.

"Situationship" is smut city! I understood by the blurb that there would be sex involved, obviously. However, I didn't expect it to be without equal build up on the emotional side of things. Not my type of romance. If you like stories similar to Gossip Girl/Magnolia Parks, you might like this. "Situationship" is centered around the wealthy.


Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you NetGallery for this arc. I thought this was an easy read, will be very popular for those who miss the Wattpad glory days. I do wish there was a bit less spice but other than that I enjoyed it!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. Review the story was headachy and could have been reduced by 15%.

The romance in this book had a sweet ending, but I had mixed feelings overall. I prefer more plot in my romances, and the character development felt overshadowed by the spice. I might have liked Teagan and Heath more if the "big reveal" had come sooner; instead, I disliked them for a good part of the story. The friend group's problematic discussions about women were off-putting, even as privilege and sexism were addressed.

While the book tackled important issues like homophobia and racism, the delivery felt lacking. The plot is solid, but it needs better editing. The banter was a highlight.

If you enjoy modern romances with strong chemistry (not for the shy), this could be a good choice. However, I found the female lead a bit cold and hard to connect with, while the male lead was more relatable. The story gained depth toward the end as their relationship developed.

This was an Ok read for me. A little spicy, but also some heavy topics are dealt with.
Overall, you get a sense of the struggles of belonging and connection.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Cute romance that had a surprise twist. The story was nice, the spicy scenes were mostly good, although a few too many of them were from a man's perspective, and it was a quick sweet read.

This book, Situationship, by E.M. Wilson was an easy and fun read. The story was the friends to lovers trope, which is my favorite! It was a little spicier than I expected but nothing over the top. The characters were well developed and relatable. There was humor and depth which is not always there in a "rom-com" book. It is definitely an open door romance, but has a great story!

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

This was a 3-star read for me.

Teagan and Heath have a back story, we just don't know it yet. I enjoyed how it was teased during the whole story and finally revealed to us towards the end, it kept me intrigued in their story. I felt as though there was so much character development for them and enjoyed reading the dual POV.

Teagan and Heath enter into a situationship and jump right into the spice, no complaints here! There are some heavy themes in this book, including abortion, racism, eating disorders, LGBTQ+ rights, and mental health, but I do feel as though the author did a good job of handling these issues.

Teagan and Heath's situationship expands into so much more, and with that, we see the growth and the potential that these two characters have. They made each other better and had me rooting for them. The story has some interesting side characters and stories and was causing some anxiety with the stress of them getting caught, overall I enjoyed this book.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book with spice, frenemies with benefits, and a secret relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #Situationship #NetGalley.

a lot of thoughts on this one! characters in the book had known each other since elementary school, main lady was a bi Black woman who was adopted into a wealthy white family. the queerness of the main was only brought up when strippers were brought up? so that irked me a bit. a whole lot of spicy scenes and growth and character development which i loved but it was all paired with cringe and just immense unrealistic situations. thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I can not make an accurate review because I did not finish this book. Not that the book wasn’t good. It just wasn’t for me and I don’t feel comfortable giving it a proper review because I didn’t finish the book cause it wasn’t my style of book once I started reading it.

Some books ease you in, giving you time to settle into the story before the tension builds. Situationship by E.M. Wilson isn’t one of those books. It jumps right in, throwing you into the middle of a romance that’s equal parts heat and mystery. Teagan and Heath seem like the perfect match—effortlessly drawn to each other, full of witty banter, and tangled up in something neither of them is quite ready to define. But from the start, there’s a sense that their connection isn’t as simple as it seems. A big thanks to NetGalley, E.M. Wilson, and the publisher for the ARC.

More Than Just a Fling

On the surface, this is the kind of romance that keeps you turning pages late into the night. It’s steamy, sharp, and layered with just enough tension to make you wonder when—or if—everything will come crashing down. But underneath that spice is something deeper. The book continuously hints at a shared past between Teagan and Heath, something unspoken that lingers between them. The more you read, the more you realize that their history is just as important as their present. And when it all finally comes to light? It’s unexpected in the best way.

A Story That Feels Almost Too Real

Beyond the romance, Situationship taps into something heavier—what it means to be an outsider. Wilson doesn’t shy away from the realities of class, race, and privilege, and she weaves these themes seamlessly into the story. There are moments that feel almost too real, like stepping into a world that’s uncomfortably familiar. The characters don’t just exist within the romance; they move through a society that sees them in a certain way, and those unspoken rules shape their choices, their fears, and ultimately, their relationship.

A Slow Burn Beneath the Fire in Situationship

This book starts hot and heavy, but by the end, it settles into something much softer. The shift from raw chemistry to real emotional depth is one of the book’s strongest points. If you stick with it, the payoff is worth it. The ending feels earned, a resolution that doesn’t just wrap things up neatly but actually satisfies.

Final Thoughts on Situationship...

Situationship is more than just a romance—it’s a story about connection, identity, and the quiet ways the past never really lets go. If you’re looking for a book that balances spice with substance, this one delivers. It pulls you in, keeps you hooked, and by the time you turn the last page, you’ll be glad you stayed for the ride.

Published on bookisheats.com

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for an e-ARC of Situationship by EM Wilson in exchange for an honest review!

This story follows two frenemies that decide to embark in a sex-only summer contract to ease their mutual stressors. They both run in the same wealthy social circles and have been “friends” since childhood. Teagan is hardheaded and strong willed in everything she does and Heath is a playboy with a soft spot for the people he cares about.

This book discusses tough themes involving racism, homophobia, and ED so read with caution. However, the author does a pretty good job at addressing the issues and using the scenes to move the plot and character development. I enjoyed the subplots beyond the situationship at hand and really enjoyed some of the side characters as well (mainly Levi and Heath’s mom).

While there was some character development for Teagan and Heath, it didn’t start showing until late in the book. By that point, it started feeling like a strung out slow-burn. Spending most of the book stuck in their heads and avoiding any real conversations about their feelings, the sudden transformation into soulmates just felt a bit forced and impractical. I also hope I never have to read a male main character refer to his genitalia as a “not-so-little guy” again. The phrase was used in nearly every spicy chapter in the MMC POV, and every single time, it gave me the worst ick.

Besides that, I really did enjoy this read and definitely recommend if you like slowburn, frenemies with benefits, secret relationship stories with a bit of cringey dialogue.

There’s so much I can say about this book, and most of it isn’t positive but I’ll start there. I liked Teagan as a character. Her choices in the book didn’t bother me at all. I don’t really understand where the hate she’s getting in reviews is coming from. I will say, the author made some choices that I didn’t agree with. I felt like Teagan was made bisexual just so that the author could say the lead was LGBT+. Granted, bisexuality looks different for everyone but Teagan’s attraction to women only comes into play when strippers are brought up. Which personally rubbed me the wrong way. Jeremy was probably my favorite side character, albeit he comes off very stereotypical gay. His one character trait is him being snarky. Chapter 32 was my favorite chapter because I love when things blow up. I love mess and that was chapter 32.

Now onto the negatives…. The MMC Heath was a douche from the start and took several chapters before I found him somewhat redeemable. And it’s really only because he’s the only straight male in the friend group who sees and acknowledges color. This book also suffered from the classic saying, Jack of all trades, master of none. It tries so hard to touch on so many subjects. Race, Class, Wealth, Out of Race adoptions, Eating disorders…. And does none of them well. There’s also plot points brought up that go nowhere. There was a somewhat revelation revealed when the characters go to Vegas and honestly, this book would have been 10x better if that was the plot.

The reveal at the end of why Teagan and Heath are not in a good place felt weird and quite frankly like an ass pull. Two characters who have known each other since 2nd grade, and were very close up until their first year of college, can’t communicate?!?!?! Sigh. I have more thoughts but I’ll leave it off by saying, this book should not be labeled erotica. The sex scenes were okay, if not a bit repetitive and boring.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book, in exchange for a review.

Who hasn’t been in a situationship? The not knowing what is really going on or who is really catching feelings? This was cute while touching on some really important subjects- abortion, LGBTQ rights, racism, and wealth inequality, mental health and eating disorders. By the end it felt a little like a BINGO game, hitting all the key buzz words. Overall, it was good.

At times it was hard to root for Heath - the man didn’t know the word “budget.” But I’m glad he and Teagan got back together in the end. AND cut off their problematic friends (yay boundaries!). I’d recommend to others for a quick fun read for sure. A little spicy, but not the spiciest thing I’ve ever read.

2.5⭐️

This book was decent. It follows Teagan and Heath in their
"situationship" contract they create, all while rekindling their love for one another along the way. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, though I did feel that at times the plot became repetitive, with some moments feeling a bit flat because of the repetitiveness.

One of the things I appreciated was the dual perspectives from both Teagan and Heath to get insight into each of their emotions and experiences. There was good character development throughout the story, and I was satisfied with the ending.

It was a cute, cliché romance, where you can predict the outcome, but I enjoyed it. I will definitely be looking forward to more books by E.M. Wilson in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC! This book will be published on 4/29/25.