In "Situationship" by E.M. Wilson, the author explores modern relationship dynamics through the lens of commitment anxiety and personal development. Teagan, a law student from a family of high expectations, finds herself in a tumultuous relationship with Heath, an emerging physical therapist dealing with a difficult family situation. Both are deeply involved in a close-knit group of friends and after a hectic social summer schedule decide to have a casual relationship with defined timings. As their past returns and their feelings intensify, what appeared to be a simple arrangement turns out to be more intricate.

The character depiction of Teagan and Heath in the book demonstrates both engaging and genuine qualities. The character Teagan shows many qualities of a strong and independent person as she faces both her own desires and the pressures of her society. Her story shows how people must address their powerful drive for achievement versus their need to be weak. The complexity of Heath's character matches Teagan's charming nature as both elements enhance the growing connection between them. The attraction between them is obvious through their humorous dialogue and passionate scenes which sustain the readers' interest.

Through the novel, the author successfully explores major themes including racism, homophobia, adoption trauma and mental health struggles. The story integrates these elements into the plot to build believable character histories and depict the real challenges they encounter. While multiple heavy themes add depth to the story some readers have felt that the inclusion of these themes creates overwhelming content that could benefit from more concentrated exploration.

The story moves at a constant speed throughout the book but some readers might find the middle chapters predictable. The narrative succeeds primarily through its development of characters along with Teagan and Heath's relationship progression. The dialogue throughout the novel shows sharp wit and humorous moments that lighten the intense emotional depth.

Readers who enjoy contemporary romance with meaningful storytelling should find their happiness in "Situationship." Through a thoughtful exploration of love and identity readers will discover the necessary courage to face their past. The novel does not reinvent the romance genre but delivers an enjoyable and reflective read to readers.

I am a sucker for a good friends with benefits story, so this was right up my alley! I really enjoyed this book for the light and easy read that it is. Sometimes, that's what we need, right? I loved the leads, even when they were being a bit insufferable, but that's one of my favorite parts of this genre - we root for the humanity of these characters in the ways we hope that people would root for us!

There are some small editing things that caught my eye, but all in all, I give Situationship 3.5 stars! BIG thank you to E.M. Wilson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars!

EM Wilson is one of my favorite wattpad authors, she’s written some of my all time favs. This book was fast paced, fun and had just the right amount of drama at the end. I will say this isn’t my favorite by her but it has the same flare of spice that I know and love. I liked how the characters were shamelessly themselves and knew what they wanted with strong independence. I do however wish we got a bit more of their history in the beginning, but overall I enjoyed reading this and hope for EM to publish some of her other gems!

This is a very spicy frenemies to lovers rom-com. We meet Teagan, who is a busy law student. She is "one of the guys" in her long-time friends group. This group includes Heath, who is her ex-boyfriend.
Tegan and Heath are very sexually dissatisfied and decide to enter into a "situationship" with each other for the summer.
I feel like this was pretty predictable. But it was a decent read.
** I will add that the spice level is a lot. If you are uncomfortable with VERY explicit adult scenes, this is definitely not a book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and author E.M. Wilson, for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it cover to cover. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me blush! I did find that Teagan had far too many "things": being adopted, a black woman in a white mans world, bisexual, anxiety, eating disorder, abortion, shitty friends, oldest daughter complex... I think it should've been narrowed down to just a few, but I did find that I related to her a lot. I would definitely recommend this to friends!

This book started off slow and predictable and got better about 65% of the way through. Why wait until almost the end of the book to show more of the relationship and history between the two main characters. Once we find that out, it makes it less of a Situationship. I see what the author was trying to do but it just wasn’t quite there.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this one.

Look - was this a great book? No. Did it provide me a few hours of entertainment? Absolutely.

The writing definitely screamed Wattpad, and these self-absorbed, high society-raised assholes were a bit much at times - but I did feel like Teagan and Heath showed some growth in their characters.

The spice was spicing from the early pages - these two characters banged a lot. Good for them.

I successfully predicted 95% of the big reveal from the end, it was extremely predictable. Honestly I think the book would have been even better if we knew that information up front - it would have helped the reader be more understanding of Teagan’s hatred towards Heath (despite screwing his brains out every other chapter).

All that said - I read this in less than 24 hours, and I’d be interested in seeing what else this author creates in the future.

The Situationship by E.M. Wilson is a captivating, steamy, and emotionally layered read that perfectly captures the chaos of undefined relationships. Teagan and Heath’s “no-strings” arrangement starts off as a practical solution but quickly turns into a mess of complicated feelings, undeniable attraction, and moments that had me glued to the pages.

Teagan is such a compelling protagonist—she’s ambitious, sharp, and juggling the weight of family expectations while trying to carve out a life that’s truly her own. Her struggles with self-worth, vulnerability, and the fear of getting hurt again felt so real, and I appreciated how Wilson handled those deeper themes. Heath, on the other hand, is frustrating in all the best ways—charming, closed off, and completely unprepared for how much Teagan would challenge him. Their chemistry is off the charts, and Teagan’s inner monologue? Hilarious. There were so many moments that had me chuckling out loud.

Beyond the spice and banter, the book also tackles important themes like racism, homophobia, and the difficulty of staying true to yourself under societal pressures. It adds depth to the romance, making their journey feel all the more meaningful. If anything, the pacing dragged a little in the middle, and some plot points were predictable, but that didn’t take away from how engaging the story was. If you love a romance with heart, heat, and a lot of emotional complexity, The Situationship is absolutely worth the read!

When I first started the book; I was so shocked how quickly it moved but then I enjoyed the pace. I went into the story expecting fluffy romance and ended up relating to Teagan on so many levels. The relationship between Teagan and Heath was very interesting & hard to connect to at first being I was trying to decipher what their actual connection was but by the end of the book I definitely understood and was smitten over them.

I really liked this book, but feel like there were several changes that could’ve made to make me love this book. I feel like this book covered so many important topics, but I feel like the way in which they were discussed and the order and time given to the topics felt a little bit rushed and scattered in a lot of moments.

“Situationship” by E.M. Wilson is a captivating contemporary romance that masterfully blends humor, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry. The story follows Teagan, a determined law student, and Heath, a charismatic yet commitment-averse man, as they navigate a no-strings-attached arrangement that becomes increasingly complex as genuine feelings emerge. Their witty banter and undeniable connection make for an engaging read that keeps you rooting for them throughout. Wilson’s nuanced exploration of modern relationships and personal growth adds depth to this steamy narrative, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. If you enjoy romances with strong, relatable characters and a perfect balance of spice and heart, “Situationship” is sure to delight.

I think the style of writing threw me off a bit and I took some time getting into the narrative. But when I got settles I just knew I needed to step away. In this case, there's desperate need for rewrites and input for an editor. The bones are there, but it needs some alignment and shifting.

Thank you Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books for the ARC.

Loved the main character and the fact that’s he’s never settled for less than she deserved especially when it comes relationships. Would definitely read a sequel.

If someone has told me that this is a wattpad novel, I wouldn’t have bother to read this. I mean maybe it’s me problem because my thriller mind doesn’t let me read romance 😂😂

Anyway, this book follows Heath and Teagan begin an arrangement where they have pre-scheduled hookups, but the situation grows complicated when feelings get in the way. This more erotica than romance but I’ll stick to the romance genre. fake-dating trope is nicely done tbh.

Teagan sometimes annoyed the hell out of me because maybe she’s rich? Whatever so She’s in her last year of law school and her parents look for the aappearances more than feelings. So after the breakup with her boyfriend she’s looking for a casual relationship with none other than her kinda enemy; Heath.

Well I hope the book might’ve been good if it does have some depth.

"A Complex Summer Romance That Tackles Heavy Themes with Heart"

★★★¾ (3.75/5 stars)

In "Situationship," E.M. Wilson weaves a complex narrative that's far more than just another erotic romance. The story follows Teagan, a Black woman adopted into a wealthy white family, and Heath, a biracial physical therapist from a complicated background, as they attempt to navigate a summer "friends with benefits" arrangement against the backdrop of an upcoming friend's wedding. What starts as a seemingly simple agreement between two people with an intense history becomes a journey of rediscovery, healing, and confronting past hurts.

The strength of "Situationship" lies in Wilson's ability to create authentically flawed characters navigating real-world complexities. The relationship between Teagan and Heath evolves naturally from physical attraction to something deeper, complicated by their shared history and unresolved feelings from their teenage relationship that ended in heartbreak and misunderstandings. Their journey from casual lovers to two people clearly in love but unable to voice their feelings is both frustrating and deeply compelling. The inclusion of family dynamics, particularly through Teagan's siblings Levi and Rowan, adds rich layers to the narrative.

While the book tackles numerous heavy themes - from abortion to addiction, from racial dynamics in privileged spaces to family disappointment - some of these elements feel compressed within the 261-page count. The story also includes a racist 'friend' subplot that, while realistic to the setting, feels underdeveloped. Despite being marketed as erotica, the intimate scenes aren't as descriptive as genre readers might expect, though they serve their purpose in developing the emotional connection between the characters.

What sets this book apart is Wilson's ability to make readers deeply invest in the characters' journeys. The emotional depth, particularly in Teagan's story, creates moments that genuinely make your chest ache. Though the latter part of the book introduces several serious plot points in quick succession, Wilson handles each with sensitivity and care, even if they might benefit from more space to develop fully.

The 3.75-star rating reflects a story that succeeds in creating emotional resonance and complex character relationships but could benefit from more room to explore its numerous plot threads. Despite its constraints, "Situationship" remains an engaging read that pushes beyond typical romance conventions to explore deeper themes of family, identity, and healing, while delivering a satisfying friends-to-lovers journey that feels earned through every complicated step.

Recommended for readers who enjoy romance with substance, complex family dynamics, and stories that aren't afraid to tackle serious issues alongside their love story.

I typically read psychological thrillers, but I haven't been feeling the best, so I was looking for an easy, light read. This book definitely checked the boxes! ✔️

Friends since elementary school, Teagan and Heath have a long history together. Both were raised with a "silver spoon in their mouths," but growing up with money isn't all it's cracked up to be...

Such a sweet story of love and friendship with a little smut mixed in! Even though it wasn't a psychological thriller, there was a little twist at the end that was unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Sounded cute, it was cute. Wasn’t exactly what i was thinking but the character development was nice and the HEA was cute. Liked it 3.2 out of 5 stars.

"The reason I didn't want to give my heart away was because it wasn't mine to give. It has always belonged to Teagan. It always will."

This book definitely kept me on my toes from start to end. The amount of PLOT TWISTS WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. One thing I loved about the author was that they included many topics that a lot of young adults face in today's society.

Teagan has made her career her entire life. Forced to follow her parents' expectations, she is focused on getting that law degree and making them proud. Heath, who wishes to become a physical therapist, is also focused on his career, but his family has also been giving him a lot of weight to carry on his shoulders. While coming from rich families, Teagan and Heath have definitely been through a lot. The two have known each other their entire lives, and now that another summer with another wedding from their friend group is occurring, the two decide to have a situationship, especially since Teagan has just gotten out of a relationship, and neither have them have time for a real relationship this summer. A contract is made with strict rules about their arrangement being no-strings attached. But of course, with all the history the two have, and as they spend more time together, boundaries start to get blurred as feelings start to get caught between the two. I definitely loved this book from start to end, and I definitely recommend it :)

This book was an addictive, spicy ride from start to finish! Teagan and Heath’s arrangement was the perfect mix of tension, attraction, and complicated emotions. The blend of fake-dating with the backdrop of high-society events gave it a fun, luxurious feel, but the real heart of the story was in how their casual deal quickly turned into something much more.

Teagan was such a strong, independent character, and I loved how she took control of her own life, even when faced with the pressure of her family’s expectations. Heath was the perfect foil to her—charming, sexy, and just the right amount of stubborn. Their chemistry was undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve from a simple “arrangement” to something more heartfelt kept me hooked.

If you’re a fan of books with witty banter, sizzling tension, and the kind of characters who are a little bit too stubborn for their own good, this one is definitely for you. The story explores the complexities of love, friendship, and the blurred lines between them, making it a must-read for fans of spicy romance with a little bit of emotional depth.

I struggled to get through this book. While I believe the premise was promising, I found it challenging to follow due to the plot holes and abrupt transitions. It seemed like the story could have been condensed into a novella to eliminate its repetitive qualities.