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stenn2023's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Premise is just too out there for me to really take their fairly smooth sailing seriously. Pretty smutty (which was good) but even that got old after awhile. Agree with others that you have to suspend belief for a moment to get into it. If I weren't listening to an audiobook I'd probably DNF though.
Also, hate how they just threw in the underdeveloped "Black bestie" shoulder to lean on for the two white women for the sake of "diversity".
Also, hate how they just threw in the underdeveloped "Black bestie" shoulder to lean on for the two white women for the sake of "diversity".
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny and Infidelity
amberinpieces's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
thebookpaiges's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic friendship
cozycritiques's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
”She’d done a bad thing. Because that’s what this was: bad. How could sleeping with your daughter’s friend be anything else?”
- Mistakes Were Made
Tropes: Single Parent, Forbidden/Secret Relationship, Best Friend’s Parent, Caretaking While Sick, Holidays, Characters in Therapy, Women in STEM, Age Gap, Texting
Representation: LGBTQ+ (Bisexual), Mental Health
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
CW: Divorce mention, Past Infidelity mention, Parental Abandonment (Past), Misogyny
I picked this up purely because it had been described as “the MILF book,” and it did not disappoint. When there was a sex scene within the first eight pages of a book, I expected the book to be more spice than plot—which wouldn’t have been a problem for me at all. However, I was pleasantly surprised because Mistakes Were Made struck the perfect balance between spice and plot.
There was such amazing character growth for Cassie and Erin, and the emotional slow-burn of them getting together after their initial meeting was so well done. How Wilsner was able to write such effective mutual pining while the characters were actively hooking up was nothing short of amazing. Their chemistry was off the charts, even when they were separated. I loved the long-distance texting and FaceTime dates; they’re two of my favorite micro-tropes, and there aren’t nearly enough books that do it so effectively.
I loved the found family aspect of this book. It was a little messy, considering Erin was Cassie’s friend’s mother, but that didn’t detract from the tight-knit friend group feel. The messy conflict was also handled really well at the end.
Mistakes Were Made was heartfelt and fun, and I can’t wait to see what Wilsner does next.
- Mistakes Were Made
Tropes: Single Parent, Forbidden/Secret Relationship, Best Friend’s Parent, Caretaking While Sick, Holidays, Characters in Therapy, Women in STEM, Age Gap, Texting
Representation: LGBTQ+ (Bisexual), Mental Health
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
CW: Divorce mention, Past Infidelity mention, Parental Abandonment (Past), Misogyny
I picked this up purely because it had been described as “the MILF book,” and it did not disappoint. When there was a sex scene within the first eight pages of a book, I expected the book to be more spice than plot—which wouldn’t have been a problem for me at all. However, I was pleasantly surprised because Mistakes Were Made struck the perfect balance between spice and plot.
There was such amazing character growth for Cassie and Erin, and the emotional slow-burn of them getting together after their initial meeting was so well done. How Wilsner was able to write such effective mutual pining while the characters were actively hooking up was nothing short of amazing. Their chemistry was off the charts, even when they were separated. I loved the long-distance texting and FaceTime dates; they’re two of my favorite micro-tropes, and there aren’t nearly enough books that do it so effectively.
I loved the found family aspect of this book. It was a little messy, considering Erin was Cassie’s friend’s mother, but that didn’t detract from the tight-knit friend group feel. The messy conflict was also handled really well at the end.
Mistakes Were Made was heartfelt and fun, and I can’t wait to see what Wilsner does next.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Misogyny
sophie42's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism and Infidelity
megelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
I did not expect to completely adore Erin and Cassie the way I did. Yes, the friend's mom / daughter's friend dynamic did make me uncomfortable at times, but they had brilliant chemistry right from the start and by the end of the book I was just so in love with both of their characters and with their relationship, and really did think they worked well together. I also absolutely loved the found family element of the story and the variety of relationships that are explored in addition to the central romance.
I did feel that, as we got to see Erin going to therapy and really working on her issues and undergoing some great character development, it would've been even better if we had gotten to get a bit more into Cassie's character and past and development too (she does undergo some important growth, but her character isn't explored to the extent that Erin's is in my opinion). It also bugged me a bit that there's a lot of drinking featured, and that this isn't really explored in any meaningful or critical way. However, this book was exactly what I needed to read at the time that I read it and it just made my heart so fucking happy, and it's been a while since a romance book has stayed on my mind as much as this one has; Erin and Cassie deserve the entire world.
I did feel that, as we got to see Erin going to therapy and really working on her issues and undergoing some great character development, it would've been even better if we had gotten to get a bit more into Cassie's character and past and development too (she does undergo some important growth, but her character isn't explored to the extent that Erin's is in my opinion). It also bugged me a bit that there's a lot of drinking featured, and that this isn't really explored in any meaningful or critical way. However, this book was exactly what I needed to read at the time that I read it and it just made my heart so fucking happy, and it's been a while since a romance book has stayed on my mind as much as this one has; Erin and Cassie deserve the entire world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism
khymihr's review
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse
muddybeetle's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism and Infidelity
ashcrash's review
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
super fun!! some really strong characters, a lovely romance, and just enough tension/conflict to keep u stressing. also?? HOT???? we DO NOT get enough well written explicit WLW sex and this book delivers and delivers FREQUENTLY, JFC. also love love love that said sex avoids rlly any pitfall of age gap or WLW stuff: they both get chances to be assertive, they laugh and joke, they are both fully aware of what they’re getting into and Enthusiastically consent, they truly do care for each other’s pleasure and well being even before they rlly Care for Each Other, again it is EXPLICIT rather than weird vague metaphors, and they get to own their horniness!!! no passive actors here!!! rlly rlly good, liked a whole lot. if i had to ding for anything it’d be that parker still not knowing by the 70% mark had me about throw up from anxiety lmfao but obv i made it. also the ending was a lil excessively goopy but it’s a romance so duh. also sapphic couples double proposing ftw
also kept bracing for cassie’s mom to show up but never happened and honestly? LOVE. the conflict would have been completely unnecessary and i was dreading it the Entire book just for it not to happen bc why would it, the author ACTUALLY MEANT IT when she said cassie’s mom isn’t in her life and the narrative is completely cool with that. OBSESSED, PLS TAKE NOTE @ ANYONE ELSE WRITING FAMILY TRAUMA
also
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism and Child abuse
frantically's review
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Devoured this! Erin and Cassie are so sweet (and spicy) together and I enjoyed reading about them so much. Besides them, this whole book is filled with sapphic background couples and that made me so so happy.
Their relationship developed in a natural way (meaning they tried staying away from each other but didn't succeed at all) and the pacing of it really made sense.
I wish we had more exploration of Erin and Cassie's jobs and like...passions besides making out with each other. I was alright with it but be prepared that this is very much a romance-y romance!
The Inevitable Drama™ was handled way better than I've seen in other romances in this trope and everything was just really feel-good in the end.
And god the sex scenes?? So good! And so much variety 🥵 gimme more
Their relationship developed in a natural way (meaning they tried staying away from each other but didn't succeed at all) and the pacing of it really made sense.
I wish we had more exploration of Erin and Cassie's jobs and like...passions besides making out with each other. I was alright with it but be prepared that this is very much a romance-y romance!
The Inevitable Drama™ was handled way better than I've seen in other romances in this trope and everything was just really feel-good in the end.
And god the sex scenes?? So good! And so much variety 🥵 gimme more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity and Misogyny