I fell in love with this book when I first read it during March of this year. Even if their relationship was based on lust, I was rooting for Cassie and Erin from the get-go. I've included my review of the eBook ARC, but after finishing the audiobook ARC, I have to say that the narrators did a phenomenal job bringing these beloved characters to life. Even knowing what was going to happen, I was as invested in Cassie and Erin's unfolding relationship. I'm glad I did not have to wait until October to reread it, but you know I'll probably read it again when my pre-ordered book arrives.

This was my Goodreads review of the ebook ARC:

Earlier this year when I read Ashley Herring Blake's Delilah Green Doesn't Care I thought I would not read a better f/f romance this year. (Yes, I know that the author is following it up with Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail later this year, but I love the first book so much I fear I will be disappointed by its sequel.)

Which is exactly why I was fearful of reading this book. However, I read the plot and it had me at hello. While Something to Talk About had the slowest buildup possible,--it was glacial--this book begins with Cassie and Erin hooking up for what both thought was going to be a one-night stand. Their sexual chemistry is intense, indisputable, and inescapable; and while both are great at coming up with excuses why they should stay away, they are both incapable of resisting their pull.

However, this book does overlap with Something to Talk About in that everyone could tell that the characters were dating/falling for each other/in love before the characters themselves admitted it to themselves.

Mistakes Were Made is frustrating on other levels as well. One thing is a spoiler regarding Parker-Erin's daughter and Cassie's best friend--which I will not go into right now. The most frustrating for me was waiting for the inevitable fight that leads the characters to break up before realizing that they were in love and then getting back together for the happily ever after. All I have to say about it is that Wilsner kept me at the edge of my seat (I was actually in the hammock) with my heart pounding and then gave me something unexpected that showed me their mastery at writing romance novels. Seriously, if the author reads this at some point I am in awe of you right now.

I can't thank the ARC gods enough for granting me access to this one! I just finished the book and have a massive book hangover. The last time I felt this way was when I finished Maggie Shipstead's Great Circle. This time, however, this very hefty human went over to my wife, sat on her lap, and curled up against her saying I don't want to read another book for a while.

If you have made it this far into the review, I do not want to raise your expectations only to send them crashing down once you actually read the book. Mistakes Were Made is by no means perfect, but I don't even care. I love it too much regardless and already preordered a physical copy of it that I will reread lovingly in October.

Thoughts: I have been in the mood for steamy romance lately, and given my love for age gap/forbidden romance, this seemed like a book for me as I constantly search for books to add to my age gap trope collection.

Let’s start with what I liked. I really enjoyed the overall storyline and the characters. I felt the tumult that goes along with finding love where you shouldn’t. I rooted for Erin and Cassie throughout their story and hoped for a happy ending for everyone involved. The added bonus was the wonderful friendships Meryl Wilsner created for each of the MCs. These felt very authentic and multi-dimensional.

While this book is supposed to be steamy, I found myself wishing for a little less steam, and a little more about the characters themselves. Even though I had a pretty good feel for each of them, I still wanted to learn more about what made them tick. Given the vast number of sex scenes, I think a few could have been cut in order to spend more time developing the characters.

3.5★

Read if you like:
◈ Sapphic romance
◈ Forbidden love
◈ Age Gap
◈ Spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I went certifiably feral when I noticed I got approved for this in netgalley. My most anticipated romance novel for the last half of the year and my lord it did not disappoint!!!

Lovingly dubbed “The Milf Book,” Mistakes Were Made is the unlikely love story between Cassie, a college senior who is best friends with Acacia and Parker, and Erin, a supposed-to-be one night stand who just so happens to be the mom of aforementioned best friend Parker. After meeting in a bar and hitting it off, they hook up knowing they’ll never see each other again. The next morning Parker asks Cassie to join her at brunch with her mom, Erin, who happens to be the woman she hooked up with not twelve hours prior. The rest of the story is dual POV with Cassie and Erin deciding if what they feel for each other is real or if it was just a fling that they need to put behind them.

I really enjoyed this book! I love the cast of characters so much. Most of it felt like I was just reading about old friends but I wish we had slightly more bulk to their personalities. I would kill for spin offs of Acacia and Parker! The way they interacted was some of my favorite character interactions ever in a book. It felt familiar and comfortable and it was super enjoyable to read.

My biggest issue is that it felt a bit too long for as little substance as there was. I love a good, fluffy romance so I’m not knocking a book with a shallower plot. My problem was a quantity over quality one. A good chunk of the exposition felt kind of dry and like it was just there so the whole book wasn’t straight up erotica. It felt like the plot was written in a way that didn’t add to the plot, just got us to the next sex scene. Speaking of sex scenes, like I said before, I feel like there was an issue of amount of scenes vs quality of them. At some point it felt redundant to describe Cassie “entering” Erin. Again. The ratio of meaningful plot that adds to the story to good, steamy sex scenes was off but it was such a fun read that it didn’t stop me from completing and enjoying the book.

I was also sent the audiobook and thought the voice actors did a great job bringing Cassie and Erin to life! I would switch between listening and reading and particularly enjoyed Cassie’s voice actor.

Overall, I really loved all the characters and their dynamics with each other, I was rooting for Cassie to be able to keep Parker as a bestie and keep dating Erin the entire book, and even though I wish the book as a whole were a bit more full bodied, it was great. Solid 4.5⭐️ rounded up!

CW for explicit sexual content

Mistakes Were Made is Disaster Bisexuals: The Novel, and I love it. It's equal parts sweet and spicy with characters who shouldn't work together, but totally do. Definitely worth a listen.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Wilsner's _Something to Talk about_, so I was thrilled to read this latest queer romance from this author. It is another great read!

Erin and Cassie share perspectives and a whole lot of other stuff (including but not limited to great sex and emotional connections) in this engaging and speedy effort. Their meet cute turns meet cringe when - after a steamy intended one-off (do with that what you will) in the opening scene, they reconnect in the most awkward circumstance the very next day. The upside is that this reconnection gives them many opportunities to stay in each other's lives...if they want to do that.

This romance feels like it's being experienced by two aware, reasonable, and relatable individuals. It's also relatively uncomplicated, which is refreshing but also did make me wish for a little more strife at times. What I loved is that the struggle they do encounter does not come in exactly the way readers predict it will. Both characters enjoy reminding readers of exactly what the challenges are in their pairing a little too often (as is so frequently the case, we accept their circumstances before they do), but this reinforcement avoids falling into exhausting repetition.

I was really fortunate to engage with the audio version, and the narrators add a lot. If possible, I recommend readers snag this one.

Wilsner continues to be a favorite for realistic queer characters who have brains and are seeking healthy relationships. I enjoyed this one and am already looking forward to the next!

A reverse age gap, dual POV Sapphic romance between Erin, a divorced single mom, and Cassie, Erin's daughter's best friend. These two meet and hook up in a bar only to discover the next day how they're connected. This trope could have been tricky to get right but I think the author did a good job navigating all the complexities in a believable way. Good on audio too and recommended for fans of authors like Karelia Stetz-Waters. Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review.