Situationship was a great summer read. It was hot, steamy, emotional but not devastatingly so, and it had a sweet ending. Heath and Teagan had absolutely electric chemistry. Despite the fact that, for most of the book, they were bickering and insisting they didn't feel anything for the other, their sexual connection, and they way they showed up for each other showed how deeply they cared for one another.

I appreciated that the pieces of the puzzle of Heath and Teagan's history were dropped slowly throughout the book, it made me want to keep reading. I also was impressed by the character development. Not just the main characters, but also their families and friends. Heath's mom and Teagan's brothers acted as wonderful cheerleaders. And Richie and Brett were antagonists that I absolutely loved to hate.

I flew through reading this book because I was so invested in things working out, and I wasn't disappointed. Some of the intimate scenes felt repetitive by the end but the writing was overall still excellent. Overall, a thoroughly spicy and enjoyable story!

The main characters' make an arrangement to have a purely smexy relationship. Too bad feelings start to get in the way. While this is not a book about race, the MFC is a black woman adopted by a rich white family. The author explores what it means to be in that relationship. This is a debut book, as such it does need polishing. However, it made for an entertaining quick read with plenty of steam and witty banter. I would read more books from this author. If you like light-hearted stories with strong MFC and second chance interracial friends to lovers stories, this book is for you.

I had really high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I kept waiting for something to happen that was going to set the story on his ear and in the end, it never came..

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I appreciated how both Teagan and Heath had complex backstories and inner conflicts they were working through. However, I wish we got to see more of their progression in the plot. The romance was difficult for me to get into, and I found the ending to be unrealistic considering how much the couple had gone through, making it feel a bit rushed. In terms of the writing, it was easy to follow and fast-paced, which made for a quick read. All in all, I thought this was a good premise, but I wished the character development was more drawn out.

Dnf at page 74/255… this one had a hooking start but quickly lost its allure. Health objectified every woman that we were introduced to in his perspective chapters and that was really a turn off for me. Teagan and Heath didn’t seem to have much chemistry, steamy or just friendship wise, either. Their whole arrangement was a friends with benefits vibe, but after so many interactions together they just really didn’t seem like they had any foundation to eventually fall in love. Essentially, the trope from fwb to lovers didn’t feel realistic to me unfortunately.

I loved this book was very cute and I love a benefit situation. I wish some stuff were different but it Wass cute and enjoyable that I was really asking myself when would be my turn lol. I was feeling too much while I was reading as I identity as situationships are too close to my heart lol, but I loved the way it was handles and both main characters were relatable

2 stars: ★★☆☆☆
Huge thanks to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books & NetGalley for the eARC! 💌

Okay so… this one had me raising my eyebrows more than it had me kicking my feet.

When I first saw Situationship, I thought, “Ooo spicy hookup book??” It was listed under erotica, the blurb screamed steamy fake-dating summer mess, and I was like yes pls, give me the drama and the spice. 😌 But what I got was… kinda like ordering extra hot peri-peri and getting plain yogurt.

The writing? Solid. Like actually smooth and readable, which is why I got through it in the first place. Some lines were witty, the pacing didn’t totally drag, and there were moments that could have hit emotionally. But that’s where the good news ends.

Here’s the tea: the romance was a ghost. I’m not even exaggerating. The first 50%? Hookups. Just hookup after hookup like it’s a calendar appointment. No tension. No buildup. No chemistry. It wasn’t sexy, it wasn’t emotional—it just was. I kept waiting for that one scene to punch me in the gut or make me scream “just kiss already” but nah. It all felt… distant. And the spice? Bro, I’ve read more tension in IKEA manuals. 😐

And then comes the whiplash.
At 57%, this man was literally grinding on a stripper at a bachelorette party.
At 76%, he’s seconds away from hooking up with someone else.
Then suddenly—BOOM—he “loves” Teagan??
At 87%, we get the shocking plot twist: they dated before?? Since high school??? Where was any sign of that for most of the book? 😭 It’s like watching a whole movie then getting told it was a sequel.

Honestly, I thought this was gonna be a fun, chaotic, spicy mess where two friends catch feelings over time. Instead, it read like a Wattpad fanfic from 2014 that forgot to include the slow burn, forgot to develop the romance, and threw in an ending because deadlines exist.

Also, I have to say this: you can’t just say two people are in love. You gotta make us feel it. Otherwise, it’s just noise. And Teagan and Heath? They cared more about convenience than connection. Even their deep talks felt like speed-run therapy sessions.

This wasn’t friends-to-lovers. It wasn’t enemies-to-lovers. It was "we hook up when it’s convenient and oops guess we’re in love now" and I wasn’t buying it. By the end, I was like—okay. So this is how it ends. I guess.

There was potential here. There really was. The idea of two people navigating expectations, privilege, image, and complicated history? That’s good stuff. But the execution? Meh. It needed more heat, more emotion, and wayyyy less fake-deep plot twists.

Tropes:
🥀 Situationship / Friends-with-benefits
⏳ No-Strings-Attached/Hookup Culture
🥀 Second Chance Romance (Secret Past Relationship)
⏳ Convenience Romance

Final thoughts?
It’s like walking into a bakery expecting cake and getting stale toast with glitter on top. Pretty cover, but the story didn’t deliver what it promised. I really, really wanted to root for this—but the spark just wasn’t there.

Situationship? More like misfire.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! As someone who’s been in a situationship, I found Teagan’s struggles incredibly relatable. At first, her anger felt a bit over the top, but as the story unfolded—and especially after that epic plot twist—I started to truly understand her. She wasn’t intentionally miserable; she was exhausted from constantly trying to be perfect and feeling indebted to her parents for everything they’d sacrificed for her and her siblings.

And Heath? He was adorably mushy, even when he was spouting complete nonsense. I couldn’t get enough of him—or his hilarious inner monologue.

This was such a great read, and I’m so glad NetGalley sent it my way. I really hope we get more stories about the rest of the friend group—I’m dying to know what everyone else is up to!

Situationship is a fun, steamy friends-with-benefits-to-lovers story that blends fake-dating, social pressure, and emotional baggage in a high-society setting. Teagan and Heath have great chemistry and a shared past that makes their “arrangement” feel believable, even as it inevitably gets messy. The story is spicy, dramatic, and has just enough heart to keep things interesting. It’s not breaking new ground, but it’s an enjoyable read for fans of modern romance tropes

Situationship was a fun ride with all the good stuff—friends with benefits, second chances, and just the right amount of spice. The banter between the characters was solid, and the chemistry? Definitely there.

I really appreciated the diverse cast and how the story didn’t shy away from showing different perspectives and experiences. It had its emotional moments, too, but never felt too heavy.

While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was definitely entertaining and had me flipping pages. A great pick if you’re in the mood for a steamy, slightly messy romance with heart.

Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books for the gifted Advance Reader Copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

E.M. Wilson's Situationship is a fantastic and spicy contemporary romance that delivered all the drama, humor, and heart I could ask for! This book captured my attention from the very first page, giving me all the addictive vibes of my favorite TV shows like New Girl. It's a truly engaging read filled with emotional ups and downs that made me feel deeply for the characters.

The premise is instantly captivating: fiercely independent Teagan, a law student navigating family expectations and a packed social calendar, decides a no-strings-attached arrangement with long-time friend-group member Heath is the perfect solution. Their agreement for pre-scheduled hookups is meant to keep things simple, but as you can imagine, complications arise when feelings inevitably get in the way.

Tropes to expect:

Friends-to-Lovers (ish)
Fake Dating (of a sort!)
Friends-with-Benefits
Secret Relationship
Close-Knit Friend Group
Steamy & Open Door

Teagan is a strong, independent protagonist whom I truly admired, even through her moments of angst. Heath, while occasionally frustrating, was equally compelling, and I understood his complex motivations. Their dynamic together is electric, and their chemistry practically leaps off the page. Don't let the charming cover fool you—this book packs some seriously steamy scenes!

E.M. Wilson is incredibly clever in how she develops Teagan and Heath's relationship, bringing their story full circle in a deeply satisfying way. The journey they undertake, filled with challenges and unexpected turns, is what makes this book so memorable. The diverse cast of characters and the exploration of evolving friendships also added wonderful layers to the narrative.

I absolutely loved the ending; it truly solidified my appreciation for Wilson's storytelling. If you're looking for a blend of spice, emotional depth, and a compelling "situationship" that turns into something more, you need to pick up this book!

Situationship
By E. M. Wilson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Star Review!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 Spiciness Level

Situationship is a contemporary romance with moderate angst, dual POV and tropes including enemies-to-lovers, college age, summer fling, and a nepo babies friend group.

The FMC is Teagan who is black, was adopted young into a very wealthy white family and grew up in a relatively small but very rich community. She is a very powerful FMC, soon to be finishing up law school. Summers in her circle of people are always busy and social. After breaking up with her d-canoe of a boyfriend, she is stressing about not having dates for all the many summer events.

The MMC is Heath- f-boy, arrogant, a bit immature, working on becoming a Physical Therapist.

Teagan and Heath have an obvious past and are not at all nice to each other. He really wants to sleep with her again so he makes a proposal that they have no-strings-attached relations throughout the summer. No attachments. No BS. Just satisfying, mind blowing schmex. She decides she will do this, but makes a very iron clad, lawyer made contract that should protect either of them from catching feelings or allowing things to become complicated.

Once the problems in their individual home lives start to surface, the situationship is put to the test.

Read this book as an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!

Happy Reading! ❤️‍🔥

This was my first NetGalley read, and I found it quite enjoyable! I think that this is a unique, well-written look at a contractual friends with benefits to lovers trope.

While I found myself getting annoyed sometimes with Teagan and how stubborn she was, I can understand her more now that I've finished and gotten the context that was needed. I truly enjoyed Heath - which surprised me because he is not the typical MMC that I go for. I liked reading the progression of the relationship and was truly rooting for Teags and Heath to end up together!

LOVED the banter between the two, it really did make up for how much I disliked all of the douchey friends in their friend group 😂

Thank you @netgalley @wattpad and @emwilsonauthor for the opportunity to read this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the advance copy of Situationship!

This was a cute summer fling, friends with benefits/fake dating book that was easy to read and I enjoyed it! I love seeing BiPOC lead characters in romance books.

Thank you to NetGalley, @wbywattpadbooks, @fpxwpbooks for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

“Situationship” by E.M. Wilson is a flirty, messy summer romance with frenemies energy, lots of heat, and some complicated characters who don't make it easy to root for them—but might win you over anyway.

Teagan and Heath are both privileged, successful, and emotionally unavailable—so of course they decide the most logical thing to do is have a no-strings hookup arrangement while helping plan a friend’s wedding. Classic. What starts off as casual and chaotic (and honestly, kind of toxic) slowly shifts into something deeper… eventually.

This is Wilson’s debut, and you can tell there’s a spark here. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is real, and once the emotional growth kicks in, it works. I can definitely see a bright future for this author—there’s a lot of raw talent here.

That said, this wasn’t a total win for me. I struggled with the characters for a good chunk of the book. Without context for their behavior early on, Teagan and Heath just felt… unlikable. There is a late-in-the-game reveal that repositions a lot of their dynamic, but by then, I’d already spent most of the book side-eyeing both of them.

Also, the friend group? Rough. The way they talk about women is not cute—Teagan included, which was a surprise since she’s the only woman in the group. Thankfully, the book does address the toxic stuff head-on, but it still left me uncomfortable at times. And personally, I would’ve loved more plot and emotional development to balance out the spice. It leaned heavily on the steamy moments, which I know some readers love, but I wanted more substance to ground it all.

One more thing—this book really needs a content warning page. There are a few heavier topics that aren’t obvious upfront, and I hope those make it into the final version.

Overall, it’s not a perfect debut, but it has a strong voice and a lot of potential. If you’re in the mood for a steamy, messy, not-always-likable romance with some real emotional payoff by the end, this might be worth picking up.

3.75 Stars rounded up to 4 stars!

#NetGalley, #Situationship, #EMWilson, #wattpadbooks, #fpxwpbooks

Situationship by E.M. Wilson was such an easy, addictive read—perfect for when you need to disconnect and get lost in something angsty and emotional. The situationship dynamic felt incredibly relatable, full of tension, uncertainty, and that frustrating mix of hope and doubt. I was hooked from the start and finished it in one sitting.

The spice in this book was definitely hot, but what I appreciated most was that it wasn’t just heat for the sake of it. The characters had real emotional depth, and their connection felt layered and raw. Even when I didn’t agree with their choices, I understood them, which made their journey feel all the more genuine.

If you love a messy, slow-burn romance with strong chemistry and emotional payoff, this one’s for you!

**Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad/Webtoon for the eARC! All opinions are my own.**

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. And I actually liked Heath which is surprising since I haven’t been liking the MMC’s in books recently. I love seeing a guy down bad for his girl so this was perfect. I wish we had known the big drama earlier in the book but it made it an emotional ending which was still great.

Friends with benefits that catch feelings. A sweet story. I would recommend it.
Thank you @netgalley @wattpad and @emwilsonauthor for the opportunity to read this!

Teague and Heath who decide the best solution for them this summer is to draw up a contract for no strings attached hook ups as they have a number of parties to attend, and they are part of the same friend group. One part of what the contract stipulates is that neither of them “catches feelings”. Over the course of the summer, the true origin of their tension is revealed. Each of the characters could have benefited from a bit more development and depth.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc. Heath and Teagan take you on quite the adventure. Although predictable at times, they journey is adventurous and full of ups and downs. Friends and family often rub you the wrong way but as a reader I consistently hoped Heath and Teagan would work out.