Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to this eARC for an honest review.

I really wish this was a Netflix, Max, or Hulu show. I really don’t care which streaming service, just give me this series now.

This was too quick of a read that has me wanting the next book. I enjoyed reading it because I’m interested in what happens with Diana, Oliver, and Jasper, as well as how Diana is going to come clean about her “side hustle.”

Parts of this felt rushed at times, especially that ending and there wasn’t really much to indicate how time was passing through the book .

I’m interested to see how the story develops in next book.

• picking up right where ‘dirty diana’ left off, diana’s life is a mess. dealing with the separation from her husband, her uncertain future career, and her new relationship with her boyfriend from her 20s, she’s at a major crossroads. when an important client asks her to come to paris, she jumps at the chance to prove herself at work, & make next steps on her ‘dirty diana’ project. after a whirlwind vacation, can diana confront the mess waiting for her at home?
• i think this was a stronger book than the first one. the development of diana & her desires, as well as fleshing out what ‘dirty diana’ is about was well done.
• while not a perfect book, i’ll definitely be reading the final installment!

Something about the Dirty Diana series makes me so emotional while reading it. It shines light on every corner of my mind, and I'm forced to reflect on every thought and emotion I've pushed aside. I love the female friendships and how unapologetically sexual this series is. Diana in Love swept me away just as much as Dirty Diana, and I am eagerly waiting for Diana Says Yes.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @thedialpress for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Following, “Dirty Diana”, this was the second installment in the trilogy following Diana Wood as she completely upends her suburban housewife lifestyle in search of her authentic identity and her true life’s purpose. In this installment, Diana heads to Paris with her two best friends in pursuit of an ex that she never quite got over. In addition to reconnecting with Jasper, she also takes the opportunity to reconnect with herself, struggling to balance her lingering feelings for her husband with the rebirth of her feelings for her former lover. When she returns to Dallas following her trip, she is forced to come to terms with the question of can she really have it all?

✈️ The second installment did a great job at deepening the relationships of the characters and I honestly enjoy all of the characters in the series

✈️ While I enjoyed the continuation of the series, I didn’t think it packed quite the punch storyline-wise that the first book did. I didn’t feel like quite as much of a plot happened in this book compared to the first one. Regardless, I’m still all in and can’t wait to see how it concludes!

✈️ Read this if you like women’s fiction with strong female characters and some spice thrown into the mix! 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A romance novel, with strong themes of female empowerment and exploration of sexuality.
This novel dives headfirst into the complex and often fiery world of female friendships, romantic love, and the rediscovery of one's own desires. What truly sets this book apart is its unapologetic exploration of women's relationships with sex. The dynamic between female friendships adds another layer of depth, showcasing the strength and support women find in each other.
An interesting journey of passion, friendship, and the courage to embrace your inner desires.

I really liked the first book and loved the message of sexual positivity especially for a slightly older woman and there’s more of that here. It did lose me a little along the way, it very much felt like a middle of a series filler book but I’m invested enough in Diana’s story that I’ll check out the next book. Once again the narrator was engaging and this story is perfect to binge on audio.

This book picks up right where Dirty Diana left off, and I was hooked right away. I loved following Diana’s adventures in Paris, too. What I appreciated most was how the book reinforced the idea that you should be your true self in relationships. It was entertaining and I really enjoyed it.

A nice follow up to the first book that was interesting and fresh. I don't think I would be able to recommend it to most of my audience, but some would enjoy

#StillteamOliver
Let’s gooooooo. 👮‍♂️🚰 Get the handcuffs ready baby.

I loved book one. I enjoyed this book but I’m ready for the happily ever after ending.

Will Diana get her grove and family back or will there be more disappointment and heartbreak??

I will be over here cheering for Diana to find what makes her happy. But of course I want it to be Oliver. I can’t help but want the family to stay together. It’s obvious they still love each other. My hope is the separation will have made them stronger and give them both more courage to speak up and ask for what they want and need in their marriage.
With lots of great kinky sex.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Read the series, it’s different than your usual contemporary romance. Add some erotica and flair to your reading. 😆

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

I was so happy to be selected for this book. The first book in the Dirty Diana series ended in a cliffhanger and I couldn't wait to read this one. This book picked up right after the first one ended. We got to see how Diana and her husband managed their separation and Jasper (Diana's old flame) come back into her life and how that fits (or doesn't) at this point of her life.

Just like the first book, this one also left me hanging. Impatiently waiting to read the 3rd book in this series!

Read this when you’re ready for some very explicit sexy time. This is book 2 of 3 so make sure you start with book 1!

Sometimes you have to just start over.

Jen Besser and Shana Feste's Dirty Diana left us with Diana and husband Oliver decidedly splitting ways after many years of a marriage that has lost its spark. Picking things back up with Diana in Love, we find Diana testing the waters and getting her groove back. Flitting from man to man, yet returning always to her one that got away - Jasper - Diana explores her sensual side as a newly single woman in her 40s who is not yet ready to give up on lust or love.

Diana in Love jumps right back in where Dirty Diana left off, focusing more on Diana's love interests than her "Dirty Diana" project. We find Diana vacillating between Jasper and Oliver, the latter of which has apparently gotten his confidence back after embarking on several sexual conquests post-Diana. Now Oliver is ready to tell Diana everything that he could never say when they were together, but is she open to hearing it? Her mind, heart, and body are inexplicably drawn to Jasper, but is he truly what she needs?

Diana in Love is a book for the modern woman that is here to scream and shout that life does not stop after 40. Diana is bold and sexy, and not afraid to go after what she wants and feels, even if it is scandalous or taboo. While I'll admit that I would have liked for this novel to have spent more time on Diana's "Dirty Diana" project, this is a solid second novel to the trilogy, demonstrating why Diana is the right woman to spearhead a venture that creates art and media rooted women's most intimate confessions.

A really good book in the series! I enjoyed following Diana's journey. I enjoyed the second book even more than the first!

This is how you write a sequel! From the very first page, this book felt like reconnecting with an old friend—seamlessly picking up where the story left off and immersing me once again in Diana’s world. The narrative is raw, unflinchingly honest, and utterly intoxicating, not just in Diana’s personal evolution but in the deeply compelling arcs of those around her (L’Wren, I’m looking at you).

What makes this sequel so remarkable is its ability to weave together themes of self-discovery, emotional transparency, and the complex balancing act of identity as we navigate life’s ever-evolving roles. Diana’s journey is far from over, but this installment delivers a rich, satisfying progression—particularly through her intriguing new dynamic with Jasper. While I would have loved to see Oliver directly address the "hat lady" situation (perhaps I’m projecting here), it doesn’t take away from how masterfully this book deepens its characters and their relationships.

Diana only grows more fascinating with each chapter, as do the people who orbit her world. If this book is any indication, the final installment will be nothing short of extraordinary. I highly recommend this sequel—it is everything I hoped for and more!

I will be completely honest, I liked Dirty Diana way more than I had expected I would. It was engaging and fun. This book fell a bit short for me but we still love Diana. She’s fun and wild.

This book is the second book in the series and it’s a continuation of Diana’s relationship with Oliver and trying to save their marriage even though Diana fantasizes that things could be better between them.

Honestly, I love Diana. She’s is so wild and free. She’s sensual and she doesn’t care who knows it. I don’t care for Oliver at all, I thought maybe by the second book I would change my mind but that didn’t happen.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and publisher in return for my honest opinion.

I liked this one, but not as much as the first. Nothing really happened plot-wise but it was short.
definitely continued the spicy sex scenes

This book was… HOT. I really enjoyed the re-exploration of Diana as an individual as contrasted with Diana as she navigates her new reality. I like that you are better able to know her in this book, but I do wish her friendships were explored more deeply. There’s some absurdities that occur that first made me LOL but then I found them believable given the fact that Diana is finding herself again. Sometimes you just do shit to figure out if that’s what you really like or who you still really are, and that’s okay.

Jasper’s return is nothing short of steamy and lived up to not only the expectations based on his character in book one, but also the cliffhanger.

Speaking of cliffhangers, what the hell?! Another one! Jail, immediately.

I’ve recommended Dirty Diana to my book club based on it being a good books for the girls that lean towards spicy and drama. That holds for Diana in Love. Very much looking forward to the next book and hoping to be lucky enough to get an ARC again.

3.5/5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

Overall, I liked this second installment of Diana's journey. I felt that the self-discovery and having Diana be in a sort of "limbo" with her feelings was essential for the progression of her character!

I did feel like this book was slow in parts and I found myself skimming parts of the dialogue and inner thoughts, but overall, I felt that this was as strong, if not stronger, than the first book. The settings were great and the mutual respect the characters had for each other, despite their lack of romance, was refreshing to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book!

If you love books about self-discovery, second chances, and messy, real-life emotions, Diana in Love is one to check out. This is the second book in the Dirty Diana series, and it dives deep into Diana’s journey of figuring out who she really is after her marriage falls apart.

Diana is stuck in limbo—separated from her husband, Oliver, and feeling like her once-vibrant life has lost all its color. When she gets the chance to go to Paris, she jumps on it, hoping to rediscover the bold, passionate woman she used to be. But things get complicated when Jasper, the man from her past who never quite left her mind, is also there. Suddenly, she’s not just indulging in good food and beautiful art—she’s reigniting a part of herself that she thought was gone.

The Paris setting is one of my favorite parts of the book—it’s so rich and atmospheric that you can almost taste the pastries and feel the buzz of the city. The romance is steamy (definitely a book you’ll want to read when you’re in the mood for something sultry), but it’s also emotional. Diana isn’t just trying to figure out if she should give Jasper another chance; she’s also wrestling with her lingering feelings for Oliver and whether she can truly be happy.

The pacing was a little slow in places, especially after Diana returns home and has to face reality, but I still really enjoyed her journey. It’s messy, complicated, and so relatable—because who hasn’t questioned if they made the right choices in life?

Overall, Diana in Love is a sensual, emotional, and beautifully written book about love, passion, and personal growth. If you enjoy books with a strong sense of place, an introspective heroine, and some seriously swoony moments, this one is worth picking up!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC ebook.

If there’s one thing, I told myself before starting Diana in Love, it was this: “There’s no doubt about it, I’m ready to get hurt again.” And without a doubt, Diana in Love delivered—wrecking me completely.
Diana’s journey continues right where we left off, and we see her push further into her art and try to rekindle the spark she’s been missing within herself. She remains one of the most compelling characters—a woman you can both admire and shake your head at in equal measure. Diana is complex, struggling with the remnants of past love, personal growth, and the demands of motherhood. Throughout this novel, her evolution is clear—she’s no longer the disconnected woman we met in the first book. Now, she’s trying to balance the messy realities of life while nurturing her daughter and rediscovering herself through her art. Authors Besser and Feste remain consistent with their portrayal of the characters, making them feel real and empathetic in a way that tugs at your heart.
One of the highlights of this book was getting to see Jasper again. Their romance picks up with familiar chemistry and passion, but the conflict between their past and present selves makes the reunion both exciting and bittersweet. A key part of Diana’s continued growth in this novel is her ability to recognize that while she still loves Jasper, the same issues that ended things the first time are still present on her side. Although it’s heartbreaking for their relationship to end—especially as Diana is going through so much—it’s vital to see her confront the truth. Unlike in book 1, where she struggled with honesty, Diana has made significant strides in being real with herself. I appreciated that, even though she obviously loves Jasper, their relationship isn’t the all-consuming one it once was. Her focus is now more on her daughter, her art, and her inner self. In the first book, Diana’s disconnection was clear, but now, her presence is tangible, and it’s refreshing to see her prioritize what she can handle, particularly in her long-distance relationship with Jasper. This shift felt like a sigh of relief, especially since it could have easily gone in a different direction.
Meanwhile, Oliver is having a great time dating, and the return of therapy sessions between him and Diana was absolutely intense. He’s totally happy quitting his life—his job, their marriage, etc. When things get real in therapy, he speaks VERY openly about dating other women and the passionate encounter’s he’s having, and both of them end up hurting each other in these sessions. This is a work of fiction, but I felt the emotional weight of those moments as though I were right there with them. There were also tender moments between Diana and Oliver, showing that their friendship and love still run deep—even though they are no longer romantically involved. I especially loved seeing their mutual enchantment over their daughter, Emmy, and the strong co-parenting relationship they have.
The way the story ends left me hopeful, but I know Diana’s journey has only just begun. When Oliver shows up at her house, planting her favorite flowers and mentioning that he’s there to act on a fantasy from therapy, it’s a moment full of possibility—and a little uncertainty. However, Diana is only beginning to be honest with herself, both in therapy and in her relationships. Her ex, her Dallas friends—they still have no idea about the "Dirty Diana" website or what her art truly means to her. There’s so much still to uncover in her story, and I’m excited (and a little apprehensive) to see how things unfold in book 3.

While I hope Diana works things out with Oliver, it’s crucial to note that Jasper, her first love, was a recurring fantasy later in her marriage when things weren’t working out. In this book, Diana pursues other men but still finds herself thinking about Oliver. She’s able to let Jasper go after trying again (and honestly, that was tough for Diana—well done, girl!), but there are still many unresolved issues that have yet to be fully explored.
The pacing of the book is spot-on, with real-world issues handled without hesitation, and the writing keeps you hooked with its genuine, raw emotion. Well-placed cliffhangers leave you eagerly anticipating the next chapter, and I don’t know what to expect in book 3. It may not even be a happy ending with her marriage or anyone else, but I’m ready to see Diana come clean with herself—and excited to see where the story goes from here.