Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Intimacy Experiment

For what it is, this book is amazing. To be honest, it had my attention from the very start considering the main characters were a Rabbi and a Sex Worker. It was such an odd combination that I NEEDED to see where it went.

The only reason I gave this book a 4 instead of a 5, was because the main drama/peak of the story happened within the last 3 chapters (that might be an exaggeration) which left it to be resolved and for the story to settle back down rather quickly.

Other than that, if you’re into romantic comedy - this book is for you.

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The first book in this duet was gifted to me for my birthday. I really enjoyed the first book, and this book was so cute but also talked about some subjects that don’t offer get spoken about.

This book has two points of view. The first is Naomi Grant. She has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher education won’t hire her. The second point of view is Ethan Cohen. He has recently received two honours: LA Magazine named him one of the city’s hottest bachelors and he became a rabbi of his own synagogue. Taking a gamble in a effort to attract more millennials to the faith, the executive board hire Ethan because of his nontraditional background. Unfortunately, his shul is low on both funds and congregants. The board have given him three months to turn things around or else they’ll close the doors of his synagogue for good. Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems – until they discover a new one – their growing attraction to each other.

I liked how headstrong Noami was in the first book from the little snippets where we saw the friendship grow between her and Ciara. So, I was looking forward to seeing her own love story and I did not expect it to be with a Rabbi and a submissive man. It was fun, cute and sexy. But the serious subjects – trying to encourage young people to join a synagogue, sex workers after they leave the industry and that they are people before they are sex workers and how men treat male sex workers differently from female sex workers. Ethan was so adorable. I loved him and how he questions everything and doesn’t think he is worth it. Naomi was so headstrong, and I loved her and how she is fragile on the inside and doesn’t want to break. Her going back to her high school that she hated and then ranted about how break-ups sucked rather than the sex ed talk that she was supposed to be talking about.

I felt like there was something missing within this book, I don’t know what it was, it was just the extra sparkle that would make it five stars. Maybe it was the miscommunication that happened or the way that the getting back together happened.

I really enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait to read more of Rosie’s work.

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thaliareads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an unexpected hit for me, I enjoyed the first book in the series, but not nearly as much as this one. Naomi and Ethan are truly multidimensional characters that are a pleasure to get to know. Everyone judges Naomi for her past and her choice of career. Everyone bases their opinions of Ethan on his job. It was really interesting to see the pair work through those presumptions, showing who they truly were and growing closer together.

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pages_with_panda's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Meh book honestly.

The in-story seminar was the most interesting thing about the story. The main characters had very little chemistry and honestly I didn't get their attraction to one another?

The middle dragged, the pacing was really slow and then felt rushed at the end.

And we were left with a few loose ends that never got answered?

What was with that whole board meeting about Naomi's family? Not that it matters HOW she's Jewish, but it was never explained BY Naomi her family situation? Plus her whole lecture at her high school seemed so randomly dropped in. I get it was supposed to be a full-circle for Naomi but it was so badly done.

Also felt like Jonathan didn't really have any character development? He stayed the same throughout the entirety of the story and was just overall boring?

We already got the shock value of a "good girl" dates "porn star" in the first book so it felt like in this story they just switched roles but it was the same story...Couple that with the fact the characters are also working on a "business" together? It was just unoriginal. (Unless you haven't read the first book, then I guess it's an okay premise?)

Also, the sex was very boring.

PLUS the late-stage conflict felt so out-of-character.

You expect me to believe that Naomi; a strong, assertive woman who has done whatever she wants for her whole life & never gives a damn about what anyone thinks, suddenly bends to the whims of others when it finally comes down to her actually happiness? What?

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hannibanani29's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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leahhmorriss's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The pacing of this book felt a little off in the beginning but it quickly redeemed itself. I loved both of the main characters and I really enjoyed seeing their romance blossom. This book was also quite educational as I learnt more about Jewish culture and it had great representation of an empowered and independent woman who works in the sex industry.

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tilly88's review

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I liked this book. It was refreshing, i especially liked Ethan’s character. It was a good contemporary romance with strong themes of personal identity.
I really enjoyed the readers guide at the end of the book.

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