After Clementine breaks up with her boyfriend of more than 10 years, she is ready to embrace her new single status along with exploring her queer identity. On her first night out at a gay bar, she meets Chloe, a brash and bold woman that Clem thinks she could never have. When Chloe suggests they fake date for an upcoming wedding she has to attend, Clem can't say no. This surely will help Clem find her queer identity and Chloe impress her coupled friends, no need for developing feelings…

I loved the representation of a queer character exploring their identity later in life. Clem was also a plus-size character and I love to see more plus-size characters as leading roles in romantic comedies. Chloe was also a kind of character that you don't often see in romance books. She led with a bold, brash, and blunt exterior. This, at times, made her seem a bit harsh but in the end, as the layers were peeled back, she was trying to mask her emotions underneath. I also appreciated that they showed a different way of living and different life goals at the end. You don't need to settle down into a typical family structure to be happy or to be with someone you love.

In "On Her Terms," Amy Spalding delivers a charming and heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of queer relationships through the lens of a delightful fake dating trope. The story centers around Clementine, a newly out bisexual navigating her "baby gay era," and Chloe, an experienced lesbian who offers to help her learn the ropes. Their chemistry is palpable from the outset, and readers will find themselves rooting for the growth of their unconventional romance.
Spalding's writing shines as she crafts an engaging narrative filled with witty banter and relatable humor. The premise of a fake relationship that quickly spirals into genuine feelings is executed with finesse, creating laugh-out-loud moments alongside poignant scenes of personal growth. As the two protagonists navigate their feelings amidst a backdrop of weddings and social events, the emotional stakes rise, highlighting both the excitement and confusion that come with new love.
The supporting cast adds depth to the storyline, particularly Chloe's friend group, which reflects a found family dynamic resonant for many LGBTQ+ readers. Themes of friendship, communication, and the pressures of societal expectations are woven seamlessly into the narrative, enriching the overall experience. Spalding's sensitive treatment of topics like coming out later in life and plus-size relationships deepens the story's impact, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
While the book is largely a joy to read, some moments feel slightly repetitive, particularly in relation to Clementine's discomfort with traditional relationship expectations. However, Spalding deftly balances this with a plethora of diverse characters and heartfelt moments that make Clem and Chloe's journey worth following.

Often the blurbs of a book or audio book say hilarious or funny. I often thought, well, nice!
But in this case, it was absolutely true!
Chloe is such a quick-witted, naturally funny, sarcastic and fantastic character. I want to spend hours with her.
In combination with Clementine they are really hilarious!
And mix little Jesse Pinkman and especially Fernando into the whole thing and you have perfection.
Regardless of the fact that the circle of friends is wonderful and supportive and the snarky brother is the slightly annoying but an important part that Clementine needs to grow as a character and a person in this story.
Lori Prince has the perfect voice for these funny and above all wonderfully ironic moments from Chloe and also the deep and scratchy voice for the extremely hot moments!
She is great.
The whole thing is great and deserves to be heard or at least read by everyone!!
Thanks so much for the ARC audiobook. This is my honest opinion and review!

I love the way Amy Spalding writes a universe! In this story, there's friendship growing pains, chosen family, sapphic love, and defining your own future. Spalding also writes some of the best fat representation I've read.

I listened to an advanced listening copy and I loved Lori Prince's narration.

Clementine, a bisexual woman and marketing professional, ends her longterm relationship with her ex-boyfriend after realizing that want different things. She runs into Chloe, a lesbian woman who owns a dog-grooming business, at a local queer bar. They've technically already met, but Chloe doesn't share that is because her friend is Chloe's boss. (Layers!) After both lamenting over upcoming events that would be softer with a date, they decide to fake date (my favorite trope).

Chloe is a bit harsh and eschews relationships, but in a way that shows this is because of her past. Clementine struggles with stating her feelings with her friends and family. Chloe's use of "baby gay" aimed at Clementine might be the only time it's felt like a kindness rather than a hard jab, to me.

Big pros: I loved the way Clementine doesn't want a life path that looks like the one so many of her friends and family took. Spalding really shows how it feels to be this person in the friend group and how it feels to make new, queer friends who also queer their relationships to some extent. It's important to find friends who value ALL relationships, not just their partner.

I also love the fat rep. Clementine knows she is fat, and she exists in a world that hates fat people. There are friends and coworkers who are also fat. She also lives in a city and works in an industry that makes it even harder. While those realities are present and she does have insecurities, it's not the main focus of her internal voice or the way she moves through the world. She finds joy in her body, and so do her lovers!

There's third act drama that made me talk out loud to coach Clementine about unacceptable behavior from Chloe. I think this processing over time where they are absent from each other's lives happened in Spalding's other book. While it's probably more realistic, the book being told in Clementine's voice means we don't see as much accountability from Chloe, in my opinion.

I'm glad someone finally tells Greg off. Ugh.

Content Notes --
Moderate: Outing and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying

On Her Terms Honest ARC Audiobook Review:

Comedic contemporary romance about being true to oneself and one’s desires.

Chloe and Clementine decide to follow through with a seemingly beneficial fake dating experience and plan for it to last through Chloe’s friends’ upcoming wedding. With chemistry and witty banter, the two begin to fall for one another.

It seems like the story is slowly progressing at times but possibly because of very realistic fear the two have as the relationship develops.

Clementine begins to reflect more throughout the story, leading to more growth of character. Navigating friendships through various stages in life is not easy and clementines story illustrates that well.

I really liked it!! Definitely one to add to your TBR!

⭐️LGBTQ+
⭐️Fake Dating
⭐️Contemporary Romance
⭐️One Bed Trope
⭐️Reflection and Reconciliation

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

4.5 stars

I've read the first two of this series, first was ok, second was a bit forgettable, but this one I liked best. Maybe its because it was fake dating or maybe it was because it was in audio and the narrator was fantastic but this was significantly better in my opinion. I really enjoyed both characters and the whole "baby gay" aspect. We got fake dating, friends wedding, and of course only one bed so a sapphic romance full of the best tropes. I felt the 3rd act conflict was a bit unnecessary but worked well in the story and with the characters so I didn't hate it. Overall I had a good time.

Regarding the narrator, I loved her. Her voices for the 2 MCs felt exactly right for who the characters were. Her acting choices were also fantastic. I think she was the perfect choice for a sapphic single POV romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

Continuing the Out in Hollywood Series, Spalding gives us two new, flawed queer characters to fall in love with. Although this book was a slow start, I enjoyed this book just like the other two. I've really enjoyed seeing the characters develop over time and show up in later books, it's so fun seeing the relationships develop and continue in the "real world." While I could have done without how heavily it leaned into the tragedy of Clementine losing her ex-boyfriend, I do understand how core to her character that major life event was. I think this is a realistic look at a the struggles that accompany coming out later in life. As Spalding often does, this book showcased the difficulties of going against the grain of your family's expectations.

📗eBook +🎧audiobook: On Her Terms-Out of Hollywood #3

✍🏾 Author: Amy Spalding- Read For Her Consideration 3✨and At Her Service 4✨

📅Publication date: 2-25-25 | Read: 2-20-25

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic, LGBTQIA+

Tropes: fake dating, female friendships, pet friendly, 1 bed, personal growth/self-discovery

🗣️Narrator: Lori Prince voices all the characters with standouts from Clementine and Chloe. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 10:37, 326 pgs. (26 chapters)

🌎 Setting: Hollywood

👆🏾POV: 1st person single-Clementine

⚠️TW: h has ADHD

Summary: Clementine broke up with her boyfriend because she didn't want marriage or kids. She meets Chloe going to her first gay bar, but they met before at one of Clementine's job functions. Chloe needs a date for her friend's wedding and asks Clementine. Clementine wants to experience her first queer relationship, so they both agree to avoid awkward family and friend gatherings.


👩🏾 Heroine: Clementine-36, bisexual, just broke up with boyfriend Will. Does media planning at Big Marketing Energy.

👩🏾 Heroine: Chloe Lee- Korean, queer, a dog groomer

🎭 Other Characters:

* Greg+Marisol-Clem's brother and his wife
* Fiona + Hailey-Clem's BFFs since high school
* Phoebe+Bianca- Clem's boss and her wife/Chloe's friends
* Nina + Ari Fox- Chloe's friend/Clem's ex coworker and her fiancée-a movie star
* CJ+ Sofia- Chloe's friends/a couple
* Jesse Pinkman+ Fernando- Clem's new cat and Chloe's dog


🤔 My Thoughts: I enjoyed Clementine giving herself permission to explore her sexuality. Their friend group was supportive, and Chloe was very down to earth. I didn't like how much Clem talked about Will and compared him to Chloe. Greg, Clem's brother, acted like he was better than Clementine because he was married with kids. Overall, this was another good sapphic romance by Spalding.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 3/5🔥open door

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, RB Media| Recorded Book, and Amy Spalding for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Okay, woof. I got 30 minutes into this audiobook and had to put it down. The writing was painfully riddled with cliches and the audiobook narrator used a biiit too much vocal fry for my liking. I'll try a hard copy and see if that changes things for me!

Like Amy Spalding's other books, this was cute and charming, and at times, frustrating. I'm always happy to grab a sapphic rom-com that isn't over-the-top cheesy.

After ending a 20-year relationship with her boyfriend, 36-year-old Clementine is ready for a new dating venture delving into her bisexuality. Local lesbian, Chloe, talks Clementine into fake dating as the two women navigate the challenges of being in their mid-to-late thirties amongst friends who are mostly partnered, married, and/or having babies. Can Clementine strike a balance between building the independent, non-traditional life she craves and finding the right person to share it with?

I would give this book 3.5 stars but rounded to 4 to fit the rating scale available. This rom-com had its funny moments as well as big feelings realizations with the characters. It highlights queer joy and found family and I appreciated the realistic bisexual and neurodivergent (ADHD, OCD) representation. Like all stories from this genre, the lack of communication between characters is frustrating, but I know it's trying to help drive the plot. What I did not care for about this book was how manipulative Chloe is revealed to be by the end. It read as more of a red flag instead of cute by the end. I also did not like how cruel Clementine's brother was to her; I felt that the brother's character was coded as autistic which would have made sense for being overly blunt and his lack of perception toward Clementine's feelings, but the story left him with no redeeming qualities.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I was given an advanced audio copy of this book. Unfortunately, I did not like the narrator. While she had a nice range of emotion in her voice, her voice kept cracking and squeaking when she was trying to show intense emotions from the characters. She also had a pretty intense level of vocal fry; normally I don't have an issue with this, so it was pretty heavy for it to bother me.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia and Amy Spalding for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Exceptional book that really makes you think about your place in your friend groups, how much effort friendships should take and stopping the go with the flow if the flow doesn't fit you. As a St. Louisan, (Amy is from St. Louis and I've heard her raved about often in the local book community) I'm ashamed to admit this is my first read of hers but definitely won't be my last.

Narration was very well done. I'll definitely seek this narrator out in the future.

This was my third book by Amy Spalding and probably like 50th narrated by Lori Prince. The combination of the two resulted of this book being like a comfort blanket to me. I loved listening to the familiar voice of Lori and her amazing ability to voice funny situations. This has been the exact light rom com that I've been looking for. 10/10 recommend.

Amy Spalding once again delivers a compelling and delightful romance with On Her Terms, a novel that is sure to resonate with many readers. This installment stands out for its thoughtful and nuanced portrayal of bisexuality—an aspect of identity that is still underrepresented in mainstream romantic fiction. Spalding approaches the subject with a blend of playfulness and sincerity, making Clementine’s journey both engaging and deeply relatable.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is its vibrant and supportive friend group, which provides Clementine with exactly the kind of grounding and encouragement she needs. Their dynamic is not only heartwarming but also reflective of the kind of chosen family so many people seek.

Beyond its emotional depth, On Her Terms is packed with humor and spice, striking a balance between laugh-out-loud moments and swoon-worthy romance. Fans of Bi and Lesbian rom-coms will undoubtedly appreciate both the romantic tension and the intimate scenes.

Overall, this is a perfectly executed romantic comedy that aligns beautifully with the other books in the series while further showcasing Spalding’s exceptional storytelling skills. On Her Terms is a must-read for fans of witty, heartfelt, and inclusive romance.

5⭐ (audio) Lori Prince is one of my favorite narrators. 'Nuff said. 🙂

4⭐ (story) Fresh off breaking up with her boyfriend and swerving away from the conventional, TikTok-ready married life she never wanted, Clementine is ready to explore the alternatives. Not that she wants to be single forever, much less die alone. But at thirty-six, it’s time for her to experience new things—including in her love life. And though an invitation to a fake relationship to appease family sounds like a recipe for disaster, Clem finds herself saying yes to smart, spirited dog groomer Chloe Lee anyway.

Chloe is long past her own baby gay era, but even before they’ve tackled Clem’s parents’ anniversary party and Chloe’s friend’s wedding, the two of them end up spending a lot of time together. As the attraction between them grows stronger, it all begins to feel pretty real to Clem. Chloe, however, is fine as just friends—plus she’s convinced Clem is just eager for “someone” to take her off the singles list. How to persuade her otherwise? After all, Clem is starting to realize her life is wonderfully full and being “alone” doesn’t scare her a bit. Still, being without the tiny powerhouse that is Chloe, specifically? That’s a whole other story.

I love fake dating stories. I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series, and this one was fun, too. I thought Clem talked about her ex a little too much, but that's kind of realistic. Overall, entertaining and fairly realistic way two women can fall for each other. Fun times! 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

2 ⭐️⭐️

It only got 2 stars cause of the audio otherwise would have been no stars. As far as the audio goes it was good. No issues with the narrator or the flow of it.

The book itself not a fan at all. I didn’t like how the main character was treated. I had a hard time finishing this and I may have turned it up to 3x speed to get through it to not DNF it. 🤷🏼‍♀️ probably won’t read anymore from this author as this was my first.

On Her Terms, is a cute Fake dating romance. It was fun to read. The book's side characters/ The Found Family might be one of my favorites I've read. This was a book I easily fell into and couldn't stop reading. I wanted to know how they got to their happy ending. It gave me the warm fuzzy feeling I was after. Having said that, there is nothing super special or unique about this story. While I loved my time reading it, it's also one of those books I doubt I think twice about. I would still recommend the read if you love the fake dating trope with a cute queer couple

Amy Spalding’s ‘On Her Terms’ is a heartwarming and authentic exploration of self-discovery, love, and the pressure of societal expectations.
The story follows Clementine, a relatable and compelling heroine in her mid-thirties, navigating the complexities of career, relationships, and friendships. Clementine’s struggle to forge her own path — one that doesn’t conform to the traditional expectations of marriage and children in the suburbs — resonates deeply with readers. She finds herself at a crossroads where her family and friends can’t quite understand her choices. That is until she meets Chloe, a character who helps Clementine embrace her true self and create a life aligned with her aspirations.

The book is filled with witty and poignant moments (and the audiobook narration captures all the characters so well) particularly as it explores themes of self-empowerment and breaking free from societal norms. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, and the storyline is refreshing, especially for readers seeking queer and plus-size representation in literature. Spalding’s nuanced approach to these characters allows readers to see themselves reflected on the page, offering both relatable struggles and hopeful resolutions.

For fans of Spalding’s ‘Out in Hollywood’ series, this latest instalment doesn’t disappoint. It seamlessly ties together characters from previous books, providing the perfect balance of new love and familiar faces. I hadn’t read any of the other books, so this one can definitely be read as a standalone. The playful use of tropes, especially the fake dating plot, is handled with humour and meta-awareness, making it a delightful read. The advice and life lessons scattered throughout the story give it an additional layer of depth, making ‘On Her Terms’ both fun and thought-provoking.

This book is a celebration of individuality, finding love on your own terms, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage your authentic self. It’s an uplifting read that is sure to leave you smiling. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a queer, fabulous, and heartfelt romance!

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the advance copy.

This was a fun, coming of middle age, bisexual awakening Sapphic fake dating romance featuring a recently single plus sized woman with ADHD who is exploring her sexual identity. It was cute, relatable and honest had some good spicy moments and lots of honest conversation between the leads. It was also good on audio narrated by Lori Prince and perfect for fans of authors like Meryl Wilsner. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

On Her Terms is a fun, heartfelt sapphic rom-com about self-discovery later in life. Clementine’s journey into her “baby gay era” is both relatable and entertaining, and her chemistry with Chloe is charming. The fake dating trope adds humor, though some plot points feel predictable. While the light tone makes for an easy read, it sometimes glosses over deeper themes. Overall, it’s an enjoyable story with warmth and wit, even if it doesn’t break new ground. ⭐⭐⭐½