Situationship mixes steam with substance, though it leans more toward erotica than traditional romance. Teagan and Heath, frenemies who agree to a fake dating arrangement, quickly find themselves tangled in emotions.

Beyond the spice, the book explores themes like racism and transnational adoption, adding depth to the story. These themes were thoughtfully integrated and gave the characters’ struggles with identity and belonging real emotional weight.

However, the first half was a bit hard to get into. I struggled to connect with Teagan and Heath until I learned more about their backstories, which came too late in the book. Heath’s casual misogyny and dismissiveness toward Teagan were frustrating at times, though I understand this was part of his character arc.

Teagan was a strong, relatable character with a compelling struggle, especially with the pressure placed on her as a Black woman adopted by wealthy white parents.

The second half of the book was where everything clicked. The characters grew, and the emotional payoff made it all worth it.
Overall, Situationship is a steamy and emotional romance that offers both heat and depth. Worth picking up for those who like their romance with a bit of bite.

I dnf’d this at about 40%. Just felt REALLY boring and predictable. The tropes are not done super well, the characters feel really flat, and I just really didn’t enjoy this one

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Situationship was not a win for me. Even though I read lots of rom-coms, I found this one extremely cringy. The characters were flat and not particularly likable. It was just sex scene after sex scene without much meat to the story.

This is such a fantastic debut novel!! Once I began the book, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. E.M. Wilson did a wonderful job of making me feel this story. I laughed, I cried, and I was cheering for the ending. Teagan and Heath have so much history and I loved how their story unraveled. I’m so excited to see what this author writes next!

Thank you Net galley for the arc!
Unfortunately this is gonna be a DNF for me @10%. I hate to write bad reviews about anything because I believe all authors deserve flowers for writing a book in the first place, but I just couldn't get done with this. It felt extremely immature and cringy. It was basically just two rich people having sex. So basically I'll have to pass.

This was a cute story. The banter and spice was great! It did fall a bit flat for me tempo wise. I did enjoy the story and the MCS.

While the premise of this story was great, and it had the potential to be a steamy summer romance, it unfortunately fell flat for me. The characters felt as if they had no real personality and were very one dimensional. The story also moved very quickly without much growth or background on either character. The book also felt very repetitive when it came to the characters and how they interacted with each other, and how the spice was approached in this book.
I understand the characters in this book were meant to be written as slightly stereotypical, but while this book had the opportunity to subvert the trope and give each character growth, not much of that was present in the book.

There is so much potential for this book and author, and I would be curious to pick up their next work. This book just ultimately missed the mark for me.

This was cute! Definitely a little cheesy and predictable at times but very cute. I liked the drama and the characters were enjoyable!

It had a very slow start though. Almost gave up before I was even halfway through but it was SUPER cute! I liked that it had an interracial romance as well. I feel those aren't frequently added to books.

I really enjoyed this book!

✨ Frenemies to lovers
✨ Interracial couple
✨ Second chance romance
✨ Spice
✨ Banter
✨ Career Focused

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

When a friends with benefits storyline turns into a were they ever really friends only to expose, they were the best of friends!

4.5/5 stars
3.5/5 spice

This had a whirlwind of emotions. At first...I actually didn't like either MCs but honestly they he on me really quick. The character development was spot on and subtle. I didn't realize I was going to go on this emotional roller coaster with these two, but by the end I was rooting for them and crying with them. Highly recommend for fans of hate to love, frenemies to lovers, forced proximity, and college romances.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Situationship delivers on both steam and story, though it does lean a bit more into erotica than a traditional romance because of the arrangement between Teagan and Heath, the main characters. These two hyper-independent frenemies agree to a fake dating/scheduled sex setup (what could possibly go wrong?), only to find themselves caught up in feelings and complications. There’s forced proximity, frenemies-to-lovers tension, and a black cat/golden retriever dynamic, all of which kept me hooked. If you enjoyed Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood, this should be on your list.

Beyond the spice, the book weaves in themes of racism and transnational adoption, adding depth that sets it apart from typical erotic romances. These themes weren’t just thrown in for the sake of it—they were fully integrated into the characters’ experiences and backstory in a way that felt intentional and honest. I really appreciated how the book explored how these issues shape people’s identities and relationships, and these topics were handled with care and nuance. The characters’ struggles with belonging, self-perception, and the way others define them felt deeply real. This added an emotional layer that set the story apart from a standard high-heat romance.

That said, the first half didn’t totally work for me. I struggled to really like either one of these characters up until the halfway point. I truly wish we had a little more of Teagan and Heath's backstory up front so I could feel their heartache and understand their reservations with each other, vs. feeling like they were just two assholes who kind of knew each other in the past.

Another issue I had was how much of Heath's POV contained casual misogyny and general dismissiveness toward women (especially toward our girl Teagan)... it was hard for me to overlook. I get that it was part of his character arc, but it made it tough to connect with him early on. His hyper-independence and womanizing read less like “emotionally unavailable but charming” or "wounded animal who will never love again", and more like “just kind of an ass.” I found myself groaning at his internal dialogue more often than not, especially in the first few chapters.

Teagan was a well-developed character with people-pleasing habits and a strong drive to succeed. Her struggle with the unrealistic expectations being placed on her by her parents was incredibly relatable. I also appreciated how this book touched on the struggle of being a Black woman adopted by rich white parents, and how expectations even among privileged nepo-babies is still riddled with racism and sexism.

The second half, though? That’s where the book finally found its groove. Both main characters went through real, on-page growth, and I loved watching them slowly drop their armor and get vulnerable with each other. We got to learn their backstory and feel their hearts break for and with each other, and THAT was what I needed in the first half. The emotional payoff was so satisfying, and the author’s fresh, witty writing made the journey worth it. Her humor jumped off the page, balancing the heavier themes really well.

While I didn’t love the first half, the strong character arcs, layered themes, and sharp writing have me excited to see what this author does next. If you’re looking for a steamy, emotional romance with bite, this one’s absolutely worth picking up!

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. I love a misguided hook up plan with two leads that “can’t stand each other”. But I didn’t love that it took all the way to the end of the book for the characters to get some depth and vulnerability. Everything was very surface level for about 75% of the book. But it really did have so many amazing things it could have plotted into harder. The call outs on racism and homophobia within their friend group, the adoption issues and living up to family expectations, the diet pills, the mental health issues…all there…but maybe it could have been a few less issues so we could have really gotten into things further and felt some resolutions. Things felt incomplete here.

The banter, and the steam was very fun.

I loved the banner between both of the main characters. I love how opposite they are from each other but have some common similarities. This is a good, mild pace book. It will definitely keep you entertained. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend!!

Situationship was a fun romance that follows Teagan a socialite with a busy summer of social events. Teagan has too much going on to worry about being in a relationship. This is where Heath comes in. They have been part of the same group of friends since they were young, but they clash. However, Heath doesn't do relationships so he is actually the perfect match for a no strings attached summer fling. As they spend more time together, they start to share their stresses and realize they understand each other. As they get closer, their history comes to light and we learn why they don't get along. Enjoy this sweet and touching romance to see how it all comes together.

Situationship took the fake dating trope and took it to the bedroom instead. Teagan and Heath don't want anyone to find out about their relationship. There are sneaking around shenanigans happening as their friend group comes together for parties and weddings. However, it isn't all fun. The book also covers topics like eating disorders, family tensions, racial injustices, abortion, bigotry, and manipulation (definitely check trigger warnings).

The tension and slow burn between Teagan and Heath was beautiful. They had a very antagonistic relationship to start and we slowly see it morph into a supportive relationship. While the ending feels like it snowballs a bit, I think that it was a good choice to wait to reveal Teagan and Heath's backstory. It gave us time to see them develop together and separately and not impact the turn in the story. I enjoyed the story and definiteoy recommend it if you want a not so standard romance.

E.M. Wilson has been a standout author on Wattpad, and with her debut novel The Situationship, she proves that she has the ability to craft fast-paced, spicy, and engaging romances that keep readers hooked. While this book may not be my favorite of hers, it does showcase her talent for creating vibrant, complex characters and weaving tension-filled plots.

The Situationship is a frenemies-to-lovers romance featuring Teagan and Heath, two privileged, career-driven "nepo-babies" who agree to a no-strings-attached fling over the summer while planning for their mutual friend’s wedding. It's a dynamic setup that lends itself to plenty of drama, flirtation, and eventual emotional growth.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the banter. Wilson does an excellent job with the snarky exchanges between Teagan and Heath, making their interactions feel realistic and entertaining. Their chemistry is palpable, and you can feel the tension building as the story progresses. When the character development finally hits, it’s genuinely well done, and the romance itself ends up being sweet and satisfying, making it clear that despite their rocky start, Teagan and Heath are meant for each other.

That said, the book isn't without its flaws. For one, I felt that the character development could have started earlier. The lack of depth at the beginning made it hard to connect with the characters, and for a while, I actually disliked both Teagan and Heath. Their growth felt a little rushed toward the end, and I think a bit more buildup would have made their eventual connection feel even more rewarding.

Another issue I had was the overall focus of the book. The Situationship has a lot of spice—perhaps even more than it does plot or character development. For readers who enjoy romance with a bit more of a plot-driven focus, this may feel like a slight imbalance. The spice is certainly fun, but I found myself wishing for more depth in the narrative overall. Additionally, while the privilege and sexism present in the friend group were called out within the story, it still left a bad taste in my mouth. The way the characters, especially Teagan, talked about women was off-putting at times, even though it was ultimately addressed.

Another major critique is the lack of a content warning, especially for sensitive readers. Given the themes of sexism, privilege, and some of the more explicit content in the book, I think it would be helpful to include a warning in the final version to make readers aware of what they’re getting into.

Overall, The Situationship is a fun, spicy read that has its moments of brilliance, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of character depth and plot structure. I do believe E.M. Wilson has a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see how she grows as an author. If you're a fan of her Wattpad stories, you’ll likely find this debut to be an enjoyable, though imperfect, read. Here's hoping her future works deliver even more of the heart and substance that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place.

The banter was great, and I liked the concept of the plot. I love a good frenemies to lovers trope, but I feel like the character development throughout fell short. I would have liked the "big reveal" at the end to have been earlier on, or even at 40/50% so that it really captures why they are the way they are. The spice was nice and definitely there, so if you're looking for a short, spicy read this may work for you. The story was a bit hard to get into but ramped up a bit about 40% in. I stuck it out for the sake of some reviews stating that getting through the first half is worth it, which in a way it was. The dual POV was also great, so that we could see both sides.

While the book does tackle some bigger issues (racism, abortion, homophobia, etc), I feel like the delivery was lacking. I also did not see a TW (actually, the copy I received via NG did not have a TW list at all which was shocking) for ED, which was discussed momentarily, and as someone who has struggled with an ED, I would have loved to see that in a TW list.

This was the first writing I've read from E.M. Wilson, and I wasn't aware that she was necessarily a "wattpad writer" but that didn't bother me much. (The first NG copy I downloaded had a TON of formatting issues, but once I deleted it and re-downloaded it, it was fixed. I don't blame the author on this, but I wanted to at least put it out there in case anyone DNFs it due to formatting - I recommend deleting it and re-downloading it to see if the glitch fixes itself :) )

No time was wasted jumping into the spice for this one, which I’m not complaining about! Some heavy topics are discussed including racism, abortion, and eating disorders. The banter between Heath & Teagan as their connection grows throughout the book really had me rooting for them!

Boy, this one was a bit tough to get through 😬

I felt like it overall was very predictable and frankly I disliked both of the main characters a lot which doesn't really help with a romance. I found some of the slang used to be really cringy (never thought I would read the words zamn and sneaky link in a book)

I know this is a romance but I think there was 8 sex scenes before the 50% mark and none of them were even that good 😅 and the characters generally felt really flat and it was hard to like any of them.

I did really enjoy the representation in this book though! I think it definitely excelled in that department but just generally needed some more editing and TLC put into it to build the setting and characters up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!