This is one of my new favorite romances of all time! I loved Naomi's endearing prickliness in The Roommate, and was so pleased to see her get her own love story with the sweetest of cinnamon roll heroes. Her progression as a character--coming to accept her own softness, let people in, and overcome past traumas--was beautifully done and made me love her even more than I already did. The character of Ethan (hot rabbi!) was a treat through and through, and I loved how unequivocally he supported her from the start of their relationship. This was such a warm, lovely, hopeful read, and I can't wait to enthusiastically recommend it to everyone.

I loved the first book in this series, and was so excited to see that Naomi got her own story! Such great representation in this story and partners respecting each others boundaries and growing together. This is a fun romance read, but it is also introspective and delves into a lot of important topics.

I wasn't really sure what to expect in a book about a former porn star and a rabbi, but I was blown away by Naomi and Ethan's relationship and how they helped each other grow as individuals.

Naomi is desperate to find somewhere that will give her a chance to teach in person as an expansion of her popular sex-education website but is striking out until she meets Ethan, the rabbi of a struggling synagogue looking for creative ways to reach a new audience. As they work together to offer a multi-week modern intimacy series, Naomi and Ethan connection deepens and becomes something wonderful and enriching for both of them.

This book was an absolute gem, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance despite the iffy cover. Naomi and Ethan have personal issues to work through as their relationship develops, and it's all handled incredibly well and realistically. I loved that Judaism and what it means to each of them is such a central part to this story. The Intimacy Experiment is also incredibly sex positive, but it never reaches the line of romantica, so I think it would still appeal to more traditional romance readers.

I adored the romance between this very unlikely duo and would highly recommend it to fans of The Roommate (book 1 of the series), Talia Hibbert, and other modern and sex positive romances.

I didn't think Rosie Danan could beat her debut novel, but The Intimacy Experiment was so great! I love Naomi and Ethan's relationship - you can see why these two people need each other, love hanging out with each other, and the sparks are insane. Also, this book scratches that Fleabag/Priest itch that everyone in the world experienced.

This book is just such a great combination of sweet/tender and pining/sexy I couldn't put it down.

As soon as I finished reading Rosie Danan's debut The Roommate, I was like, "So help me GOD if Naomi doesn't get her own book..."

And not only did Rosie Danan bless us with this novel, but she made impenetrable (and apparently Jewish!) Naomi's love interest an adorable and sexy cinnamon roll rabbi. L'chaim indeed.

The Intimacy Experiment keeps up much of the tension we saw in The Roommate but with a more introspective and spiritual twist. Even if you're not Jewish or remotely religious, Danan does an excellent job walking the fine line of being thoughtful with the Jewish interludes but not preachy. There were a couple of sections where I wanted a little more of Ethan family, and the ending may seem a tad rushed for some people who don't love rom-com hijinks, but I really, really enjoyed this one. I have no choice but to stan.

And we need more Jewish protagonists and love interests all up in this genre!

Content warning: Mentions of death of a parent, misogyny, anti-sex work sentiments

Naomi and Ethan were both unique, lovable characters and I loved watching their relationship unfold. Fans of Danan's The Roommate will love seeing Josh and Clara reappear as side characters and get to see Naomi's character and past fleshed out. Naomi is a powerhouse of a character, and I loved seeing her softer side here as well as her badass side. A surprisingly deep exploration of the Jewish faith threads through the story as well. I would have loved to see a little more expansion of the issues that were touched on with Ethan's family, but overall was a huge fan of this heartfelt, steamy story.

I absolutely adored this book. I'm sure some of that was due to the diverse representation--like, I think this is the first mainstream contemporary genre romance I've ever seen starring a bisexual Jewish former sex worker (which may not seem like a big deal unless you are one, but trust me, it is!)--and because I enjoy romances which deal with religion in thoughtful ways, as this one does. However, it's not so niche that non-Jewish or non-religious readers wouldn't find it meaningful and relatable too. The title is also apt, because THE INTIMACY EXPERIMENT touches on some of the challenges of modern romance and connection in the real world in a way I found refreshingly realistic, and the relationship between the protagonists is a great and all-too-rare example of a love story that's both appealingly escapist and yet aspirational for everyone as far as how they engage with the process and challenges of intimacy.

Naomi Grant is a former adult entertainer who now runs sex-education website Shameless wither her friends. Ethan Cohen is the rabbi at rapidly-dwindling synagogue. When Ethan approaches Naomi about teaching a series of seminars on modern intimacy as an untraditional method of growing his congregation, it seems like oil and water-- just like a potential romance between (former) pornstar Naomi and noble Ethan. But when the two can't deny the chemistry anymore, they agree to follow Naomi's modern intimacy syllabus as a roadmap in their own relationship. Unfortunately, they have to realize that love often has unexpected flat tires and detours....

Love, love, loved this story! More steamy romances featuring faith formation leaders, please and thank you! I truly believe that this book can help disenfranchised Jewish/Christian/[insert faith here] believers that not all congregations are boring and old just as the modern intimacy seminars helped bridge that gap for Beth Elohim. As someone heavily involved in her church with a strong background in faith formation, I loved seeing Ethan's struggle with work-life balance, how /human/ Ethan is and how he actively works to avoid being put on a pedestal by anyone, and how he yearns for love and intimate connection with a partner.

Diverse reads:
- Ethan and Naomi are Jewish.
- Naomi is bi, but it is a very, very small part of the overall story.

On the chaste to steamy scale, it's a 6.

I liked this book and thought the blend of Jewish faith, working on your personal intimacy issues, and Naomi and Ethan as characters were all good/fresh for a romance novel, but idk, this one just didn't grab me the same way The Roommate did.

This is an absolutely delightful follow up to THE ROOMMATE. I loved Naomi and Ethan’s journey as a couple. They were both such lovely messes of people who were clearly meant for each other if only they could get past their own stuff. Naomi’s crankiness mixed with Ethan’s sweet cinnamon roll chivalry was just great. Truly such a great read.

Loved it. highly recommend.

Another stellar book from Rosie Danan. Seeing this galley come up so soon after the release of The Roomate made me jump out of my skin with joy. Any chance of productivity this weekend was tossed aside until I devoured this book.
Danan is a master of the 'opposites attract' trope (see: The Roomate) and on the surface, it seems like this one might fit that same label. Yet Danan makes it pretty clear from the onset that this isn't really a case of opposites from the inside of Naomi & Ethan's relationship, just from the onlookers. These characters have so much depth to them. I admire the way she fits so much into what feels like a quick, compelling read.
And good gracious, all of the Jewish culture is AWESOME. Mind you, I'm not Jewish and I have been known to get a little lost in other novels that integrate so much Jewish cultural references in them. Danan incorporates in an honest, inspiring, touching way. She explains things. She builds upon the ideas of personal faith and lays out the beauty and vulnerability of it to the reader.
Loved the writing, loved the characters, loved the plot. LOVED IT ALL!
Upside of ARC reading - feeding the impatience of a book-nerd librarian like myself. Downside - There is no way I can pace myself until the NEXT book by Rosie Danan.