This book was absolutely stunning! I was a huge fan of Something To Talk About and was excited when I heard an announcement for Wilsner’s next book. That said, most of the conversations were definitely around how hot it was going to be (which, I mean, it was) and I was really curious about how the romance itself would unfold. Romances with an age gap always make me a little nervous because of the power imbalance that tends to come with an age difference, but holy smokes that was not a concern with this book at ALL once I started reading it.

**Some Highlights:**
- Cassie and Erin are both painfully obsessed with each other. The book is definitely a lot of them hooking up and/or being cute followed immediately by them being in denial about how much they actually adore each other.
- The conflict has nothing to do with the age gap and everything to do with the fact that Cassie and Parker (Erin’s daughter) are best friends. One of my favorite things about this book was the relationship between Cassie and Parker and how everything unfolds between the two of them. (Also can I just say? PARKER DESERVES A BOOK!!!)
- As previously mentioned, the spice is so so so good. Like there’s a certain bathroom scene that I’m still thinking about a month later and they didn’t even have sex????? The chemistry was just! so! good!

**Some Weirdness:**
So, all of that said, there were a couple of moments that were dropped in that just felt unnecessary and had me scratching my head. Making references to antebellum construction in almost a fond way seemed weird. Also, there’s an interracial couple that Erin acknowledges as making their neighborhood better, and doesn’t explain...why? So it very much feels like “you make the neighborhood better because you bring diversity” which just felt odd. Neither of these moments NEEDED to be in the book, they had no impact on the rest of the story. I really think they could be pulled.

**Review of ARC graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Publication Date: October 11, 2022**

Wow. Mistakes Were Made is a steamy, sexy, thrilling novel about two women in lust and in love, despite the stigmas and taboo surrounding them.

While somewhat predictable at first, the characters deepened and the story became more shocking, in the best way possible, as it went on.

I mean, imagine falling hard for your best friend’s mom and trying to hide it!!!!!

Generally, I don’t go for the sex-scene filled romance novels but this one did me in! I just may be hooked! In the words of Cassie: “I don’t believe in guilty pleasures, like what you like…You don’t have to be embarrassed to read [mysteries].”

Make no mistake—read this book as soon as you have the chance!!

This was honestly such a fun read! The key to this book is to not take it too seriously. It's inherently ridiculous and as long as you just let it take you where it wants to, you'll have a good time.

This book had spice, tension, pining, an oblivious main character, a satisfying ending. My biggest concern was how the relationship was gonna be resolved with Parker, the love interest's daughter and main character's best friend, and while I think it was a tad lackluster it was still fulfilled. Overall it wasn't groundbreaking but I'm glad I read it!

There were a few off color-lines in this book, particularly one referring to a plantation and one referring to a hypothetical disabled person as a 'vegetable' that were both simply unnecessary, but at this point I believe the author already addressed and is changing these lines.

This is great!!! I don't really read age-gap romances, but this was done really tastefully, and I think that Erin and Cassie are so cute. Plus, all of the conflict felt natural, and nothing about this was forced. All of the gays are going to love this.

Okay first let me say I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I need more Sapphic Contemporary Romance in my life or would this count as romcom? Either way this is everything i've been asking for in this genre. The Chemistry was *chefs kiss* between Erin and Cassie, the stakes were high and the found family/family aspect made me all warm and fuzzy and don't even get me started on the spice. *instert red face going's out emoji here*

Now, all of that being said there were a few times when i was reading that it seemed like whole sentences were missing, like that was someone's decision to take bc it ~still made sense~. but as a reader i really felt like i was still missing and found myself rereading just to make sure i understood. I also think the end was sort of anticlimactic, yes we love a happy ending but i think parker was weirdly cool about it.

anyway THANK YOU FOR THIS BOOK!! Not only allowing me to read it early but thank you for writing it.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Cassie and Erin have amazing chemistry and the way they support each other's ambitions was great. I was curious how their relationship would develop after a one-night stand and liked how their relationship unfolded. I admire how Cassie was allowed herself to be vulnerable around Erin and was upfront about what she wanted. Meanwhile Erin wants to resist temptation, but can't help her attraction how thoughtful and caring Cassie is toward her. The sex scenes were well written and the supporting cast of characters were well-rounded. Parker has a complicated relationship with both Cassie and her mom, but I think the messiness in the dynamics makes the story interesting. I especially liked Cassie's other best friend Acacia too. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys wlw stories to read this one!

Holy cannoli, I loved this book so much. It starts off with a bang, literally, and only gets spicier from there. But between the spice and will-they-get-caught adrenaline is a growing relationship with such sweet and tender moments that made me swoon. Cassie and Erin were perfect in all of their flaws, and the relationships between friends and mother and daughter were so well written and real. I want to hang out with all of them!

I was worried that the middle would get repetitive, but I found that the time between the meet-cute and HEA gave plenty of time for personal growth for each of the characters!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for strong female friendships, a confident lady (multiple), 10/10 spice, age-gap, and a little forbidden romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mistakes Were Made is a largely lighthearted, funny rollercoaster of a romance. Funny, awkward situations abound, and there are plenty of steamy moments for those who want them. The love story of Cassie and Erin might feel like a stretch at times, given the age difference, but the two characters' love for each other drives the story and makes the ending all the more satisfying.

A pleasant enough read but did not rock my world. The characters were interesting, but there really wasn't all that much in the way of plot, just lots of angst. Good lesbian sex scenes, though, if you're into that sort of thing.

4/5 stars
3-4/5 Spice

Rep : Bisexual (Saphic Relationship), Non Binary Side Character

TW : Alcoholic Parent (Past), Cheating Partner (Past), Lying, Family Tensions, Sexual Content, Alcohol Consumption, Drug Usage

I received a Free E-Arc in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley. Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley.

I want to start off this review by saying that there were a couple of instances (I counted 3 but there could have been more I missed) of racist comments that did absolutely nothing for the story and could be easily removed. I have also seen some reviewers mention ableist comments also which I think I accidentally skimmed but want to acknowledge. Now back to the rest of the review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you are looking for a spicy WLW fun read this is it. This book is a Romance that starts off with what both Erin and Cassie believes will be a fun one night stand to blow off some steam but then the following morning when Cassie goes to lunch with her friend Parker to be a buffer between Parker and her mom, Cassie realizes she slept with her friends mom and Erin realizes she slept with her daughters friend.

I enjoyed all of the characters and I thought the friendship between Cassie and Acacia was well developed. I would love to see how Cassie and Parker became friends in a short story as I feel like that would be interesting.

The book is spent by Cassie and Erin trying to ignore their feelings for each other but failing miserably and then later trying to become closer while avoiding telling Parker about the relationship. We get great scenes of them becoming closer slowly and having a relationship that felt real in its progression as they develop as partners over months. While they started off as lets sleep with each other for fun it later turned into hey I kinda like talking to you let's go on Not Date Dates.

Erin and Cassie felt real they were developed and had flaws that they were trying to break free of. Erin especially as we saw her struggle constantly with breaking free of the ingrained expectations she has had pushed on her since her childhood by her mother. I loved seeing Cassie help Erin overcome her ingrained behaviors like in the Christmas party scene, where Erin tries to make everything perfect until Cassie talks her out of it.

If you're looking for a Witty feel good Romance that brings the spice and tension all at the same time, this is it. (And yes it is labeled the MILF book for a reason.)

This book was so sweet!

I'm always a little hesitant to read age gap romances as I've found that the power dynamic can easily become toxic, so I was very happy to read about a healthy one! Also, a GAY ROMANCE! I loved the connection between Cassie and Erin, and it was amazing to watch them fall in love, even when they didn't see it themselves. I loved how much they cared about each other, and it was so sweet how they were always doing little things to make each other happy. Their genuine happiness made me feel giddy inside!

I also appreciated the copious amounts of well-written spice! I've read a lot of queer books where the author shies away from detailed smut, but Wilsner made sure to write a lot and keep it varied, which was awesome.

I loved this book!

This is my first Meryl Wilsner read but it certainly won't be my last! Meryl has the ability to plop the reader right into the story, sketch out a clear, vivid picture of the characters we'll come to care deeply about in about 0.5 seconds, and hook us with the plot. MISTAKES WERE MADE was a beautiful, sexy romance with so many utterly realistic moments of intimacy and heartache that sometimes I had to put my kindle down and take a breath. An effortless 5-star read!

I can enjoy an age gap story however I have a hard time accepting an age gap with a kid's friends. There were parts of this book I loved and some I found hard to take in. I found the storyline hard to believe especially the reactions to her relationship with her daughter's friend. People just seemed to accept it and that doesn't seem like a proper reaction
If Cassie seemed more mature I would b able to accept it more but she was the kind of childish and the whole thing felt wrong.

I feel like this could have been better with some reaction changes and the characters acting more mature.

Loved the idea of such a complicated relationship but as I read it, I realized It just wasn’t for me. The Taboo of this college student/mother of her friend just became too much for me to properly enjoy the story: which is wonderfully written! No shame on the author! I think the sneaking around became too much when they began being a bad friend/mother because of it. I want to love my main characters and I found myself disliking them more often than loving. If Taboo spice is your jam then this book will be AMAZING!

The world needs more queer spicy romance, and this is exactly the kind I've been looking for.
This was such a fun read. I was hooked from the very beginning and had fun the whole way through.
Cassie and Erin were compelling, both together and separately. I loved that they were both women in traditionally male dominated fields, but Wilsner didn't make a big deal about it (because it isn't a big deal!). Their chemistry was off the charts and to be completely honest, spice in books doesn't always do it for me, but this was some of the best spice I've ever read, period. There was even an excellent mix of plot and spice, nothing felt too forced and the story flowed very well.
Cassie even made me feel old with the line "Who even prints photos anymore? Were you born in the nineties?" Ouch, but it made me chuckle!
I loved Meryl Wilsner's ability to make even the side characters a lot of fun. Madison was everything. I wouldn't really call Parker a side character, but I even liked her even though she was the main reason for Cassie and Erin's relationship being so taboo.
This may not be a popular take, but I actually loved that Parker wasn't too upset in the end. Low stakes (but seemingly high stakes) is. a breath of fresh air.
This book was inclusive, hot as hell, and again, so much fun.
Fuck should!!!
This was my first book by the author, but now I'm going to check out her other novel. Thank you so much to the author and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

I loved Mistakes Were Made so much! It was fun and sexy and was exactly what I wanted it to be.

The characters were well thought out and established and whilst I didn't agree with some of their actions, they were consistent within their character's actions.

I did find Parker a bit underutilised. She was the main thing coming between Cassie and Erin and I thought this could have been used a bit more.

This book took a popular trope and put a fresh and unique spin on it. I think there was a lot that was great with the book in terms of representation however there were some moments that fell flat in terms of mentions of toxic diet culture? It like almost didn’t make any sense to be there - it was really easy to miss but certainly s stuck out to me and felt unnecessary. Overall, a great read that offers positive representation for an age gap trope but definitely need the mentions of toxic diet culture removed from the final book.

This book was okay. I liked the cover and that’s what interested me, but the beginning of the story just wasn’t for me. The whole best friends mom is just not my vibe, I thought I would end up liking it but it was just an ok book for me.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Meryl Wilsner, and Netgalley for an e-arc of Mistakes Were Made in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book a lot. I was expecting fun MILF smut, but I was not expecting the book to be PURE SMUT! It has sex scenes galore. Which is wonderful and it makes the tension really suspenseful. Do I wish there was more plot and struggle? Yes. Did I skim through one or two of the sex scenes because there was so many? Maybe.

The biggest problem with this book, as said by my friends of color who have previously reviewed this book, have mentioned their frustrating with one or two unnecessary comments about Blacks and Asians. There is one referencing how she had a black friend and thought it was cool or something that she was woke and it was just dumb. And the other was about the scene in the nail salon. Again, just unnecessary and not nice comments about race & ethnicity.

This is a fun book if you like older women, lesbian smut, and live in Virginia. As someone from the New River valley I laughed that is where the made-up college is from. It’s a good one if you just want spice but it could’ve done without one or two scenes for my own personal taste.

If you take the unnecessary comments out, the book will be splendid.

Cassie, a senior in college, is just looking for an escape from the dreaded campus family weekend. And who better to provide that escape than Erin, the sexy older woman standing just across the bar.
Erin is desperate for a distraction after dropping her daughter off with her ex husband for the evening and when young, hot, mysterious Cassie, catches her eye, she can't resist.
When the two reunite at breakfast after a spur of the moment hookup, they must fight to hide their secret affair from one of Cassie's closet friends. Who just so happens to be Erin's daughter.
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner is the new Sapphic rom-com to beat! The sexy love affair between Cassie, a college senior, and Erin, the mom of her closest friend, follows the classic ups and downs of the rom-coms of today without shying away from the taboo.
The most compelling element of my new favorite sapphic read: it's not a coming out story.