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kristinamd's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I enjoyed this novel MUCH less than its predecessor. There was no chemistry between the MCs (despite the FMC reminding us every chapter how hot she thinks the MMC is in an effort to convince you there is chemistry) and I found their banter unrealistic with humor that just didn’t land for me.
The MCs each have so many of their own flaws/old trauma that the book sets them up to overcome, but they end up half-baked at the end of the novel with the only thoroughly written out (and even dragging) resolution being them getting back together post act 3 breakup.
A quick, fun enough read that I will surely forget every detail of in a few days.
The MCs each have so many of their own flaws/old trauma that the book sets them up to overcome, but they end up half-baked at the end of the novel with the only thoroughly written out (and even dragging) resolution being them getting back together post act 3 breakup.
A quick, fun enough read that I will surely forget every detail of in a few days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Biphobia, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
editoryalizing's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Sexual content
Minor: Religious bigotry
jdf1027's review
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
ecravens's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
fatkidatheartreads's review
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
A former porn star and a rabbi walk into a bar. Actually no, they walk into a synagogue to teach a seminar on intimacy! I came for the plot, stayed for the dating and relationship advice and the wholesomeness that was Ethan and Naomi's love life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death of parent
kasssidyy's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this one a bit better than The Roommate. I did find that it dragged on a bit. The only reason i liked it more was because of the moments about faith and grief and intimacy and being unafraid of your feelings. I thought Naomi and Ethan complemented each other well (and the one sex scene we got was hotter than all of them in The Roommate)…but they were also kind of boring. The secondary characters didn’t really get much time; I would’ve liked to see more. But, I will always be an avid fan of sex positive books, and books that own pleasure. I thought the intimacy talks themselves were very well written, and I was satisfied with the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Sexism
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
toffishay's review
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Some might see it as a little to cliche, but I enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
smasson13's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Rosie Danan's work. While her stories are always spicy and insanely intimate, she manages to surprise you with complex themes. Come for the sex, stay for the philosophy.
I'm glad we got to revisit characters from the first novel in the series but loved the very different tone of this story. It had complex discussions of faith and self love.
The characters were surprisingly complex and flawed for a romance novel and I just love how there is so much slow burn tension built in what is actually a fast paced novel.
There were a few parts that the dialogue slipped and felt choppy, or characters had sudden/confusing responses.
I'm glad we got to revisit characters from the first novel in the series but loved the very different tone of this story. It had complex discussions of faith and self love.
The characters were surprisingly complex and flawed for a romance novel and I just love how there is so much slow burn tension built in what is actually a fast paced novel.
There were a few parts that the dialogue slipped and felt choppy, or characters had sudden/confusing responses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
After absolutely loving The Roommate, I knew that I had to get my hands on this book. It definitely didn't disappoint!
Whereas The Roommate was about sexual exploration and pushing past societal notions of what's "proper" and "right," The Intimacy Experiment dealt more with exploration of self and how we connect two wholly different parts of ourselves, particularly when one of those parts typically looks down upon the other. Naomi's journey with finding where she fit into Judaism was a joy to read because it didn't seem preachy or as if she needed to find religion to be whole and wash her of her sins. She shunned it because it shunned her first and watching her mold it to fit what she needed was so interesting to read.
Ethan was an okay love interest, in my opinion. Didn't love him, didn't hate him. Seemed to me like too much of the changes happening in this book was on Naomi and finding herself, not enough on really propping Ethan up to be amazing, but that's okay. I'm down for a Naomi-only book.
CW: religious talk, sex work discrimination
Favorite Quotes:
Whereas The Roommate was about sexual exploration and pushing past societal notions of what's "proper" and "right," The Intimacy Experiment dealt more with exploration of self and how we connect two wholly different parts of ourselves, particularly when one of those parts typically looks down upon the other. Naomi's journey with finding where she fit into Judaism was a joy to read because it didn't seem preachy or as if she needed to find religion to be whole and wash her of her sins. She shunned it because it shunned her first and watching her mold it to fit what she needed was so interesting to read.
Ethan was an okay love interest, in my opinion. Didn't love him, didn't hate him. Seemed to me like too much of the changes happening in this book was on Naomi and finding herself, not enough on really propping Ethan up to be amazing, but that's okay. I'm down for a Naomi-only book.
CW: religious talk, sex work discrimination
Favorite Quotes:
I forgot that love is essential. That even in its absence, you occupy yourself with the lack of it.
“The tricky thing about grief,” his mom said, “is that even when we know it’s coming, we underestimate our own capacity for suffering.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry