Loooooove anything set in Hollywood/on a film set, and I love Caleb and Tash's relationship. I'm pretty loyal to dual POV books, and that preference still stands here, but I do understand the focus on Tash and HER story, especially considering her status as a feminist author. I think we're focused on HER journey in the way a women's fiction novel would be, but it was still enjoyable and juicy to read.

3.5 stars
While I enjoyed this book as a whole, it took me several chapters to really get into it. The pacing seemed slow initially. But I absolutely adored Caleb and how he treated Tash. Natasha’s character as written had some flaws, but there was still growth for her throughout the book. Personally I would’ve enjoyed more spice. You could see the attraction and chemistry between Tash and Caleb, but there was room for more. By the end, the story felt rushed.

Tash is so proud of her feminist novel but struggles when she has to provide rewrites for the film adaptation. She partners with Caleb, the sexy intimacy coordinator and discovers that not only is her story better together, but maybe they are too.

Love a good spicy romance book! This was SO fun! I absolutely cherished the characters and there fun story. It was done so well. Great read!

Turner Gable Kahn's The Dirty Version hit home for me—it’s a smart, gutsy dive into the tug-of-war between staying true to your vision and navigating the messy realities of creative industries. Tash’s journey is raw and relatable, with just the right mix of introspection and spark. If you’ve ever wrestled with compromise or the vulnerability of putting yourself out there, this one will resonate. A quick, striking read with heart and brains.

closed door romances when i catch you closed door romances


things i liked about this book:

- caleb
- some of the discussions on intimacy coordination
- florida/florida noir/tash’s book
- the brown girl rep
- janelle & denise

things i did not like:

- tash ??? (from page 1 i was genuinely perplexed by her motivations & existence as a professor who somehow has the most rudimentary understanding of feminism possible and the only redeeming moment was the 3rd act breakup acknowledging that she was dead ahh wrong)
- i just felt like everytime tash expressed an opinion, i felt like “look at my professor dawg i am never going to fully understand feminism”

- idk i know i especially love to jokingly harp on closed door romances but its a little wild that this is called the dirty version and we hella are reading the clean version bc theres no open door scenes (this is more personal preference)
- caleb’s clothing descriptions
- it took me a bit to get into the writing style and i think though I was able to resist the urge to dnf, it wasn’t entirely for me bc it felt more detached than I usually feel reading in third person
overall, it was alright, not very memorable but a solid debut for people into closed door romances!

thank you so much to netgalley & harper perennial for this arc to review!

I had no expectations going into this novel. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the story. The plot was fun and flirty. The spice was nice! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

What a fun fresh book! When the rights to Tash’s dystopian feminist novel are sold to action director Ram Braverman’s streaming studio, she is outraged. Known for his on screen violence and explicit sex scenes, Tash is heartbroken about this adaptation.

Tash is tasked with writing the sex scenes for the show. If she declines she will lose creative control to the all male writing team. When Ram hires Caleb Rafferty and his intimacy coordination business to help Tash work through the sex scenes, Tash is extremely hesitant. But the more she and Caleb work together, the clearer it becomes that he might actually be the elusive “good guy” that she was convinced didn’t exist.

This book was great. I loved the dynamic of fiery, hot-headed Tash alongside steady, calming Caleb. I think it can be hard to write an enlightened, feminist supporting man, but the author did a great job. Caleb was the perfect combo of supportive and vulnerable while pushing back when needed.

And I’m very into the single POV right now. It ratchets up the tension so much to not know what’s happening in Caleb’s mind.

I’d consider this a closed door romance. There is lots of talk around sex and references to them having sex, but nothing graphic on page.

I received this Advanced Reader’s Copy via NetGalley. It releases on July 1, 2025.

First off, I'm not a fan of miscommunication and third act breakups. I'm also not a fan of such staunch feminists who can't stand men (feminism does not mean bringing down men!) so I had a hard time taking Tash seriously. Caleb was a great character though, and the writing was decent. Overall this just was not my type of book.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were relatable, the plot was interesting, and the story was great! I would definitely recommend!

I was really looking forward to this book because the premise sounded intriguing. However, what bogged down this book for me was the miscommunication and third act breakup, meaning there were 2 out of my 3 major deal breakers in a romance novel (the third being the cheating trope). I have no issue with the third person POV but I did feel like there wasn't much chemistry between the characters. This was a short book at under 250 pages, and I felt there could have been 100 more pages to flesh this out.

Tash es una escritora que, tras la emoción de ver su exitosa novela feminista ser adaptada a una serie, pronto se enfrenta a la amarga realidad de que los productores quieren transformar su obra en algo completamente diferente. Su mundo se ve sacudido cuando el director de Hollywood, conocido por su enfoque machista, decide hacer de su historia un espectáculo visual, con personajes femeninos despojados de su esencia. Aunque Tash no puede cancelar el contrato, se ve forzada a trabajar con Caleb el coordinador de intimidad, para hacer que los cambios funcionen.

Lo que comienza como una colaboración tensa entre ambos pronto se convierte en una historia de atracción y conflicto, donde Tash, a pesar de su orgullo y principios, no puede evitar sentirse cautivada por Caleb.




~

Tash está tan llena de coraje que explota con cualquiera que se le cruce en su camino. Se supone que ella es una mujer fuerte, pero termina dejándose seducir por Caleb, lo que lleva a que él pueda influenciarla y traicionarla (aunque no lo hace realmente). Al final, es ella quien termina buscándolo. En esta parte, ambos actúan mal: él por ocultarle cosas y ella por no darle la oportunidad de explicarse. Al final, él se aleja sin volver a comunicarse con ella, lo que me dejó preguntándome si realmente sentía algo por ella, mientras que Tash pasa semanas sufriendo. Finalmente, es ella quien da el gran paso y hace el gesto para reconciliarse.
Está parte no me gustó.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE DIRTY VERSION is a smart and refreshing romance that takes us behind the scenes in the television world. After a rocky first impression, author Tash knows she’s in desperate need of the successful sex designer/intimacy coordinator’s Caleb expertise to make her writing more sensual and entertaining to attract viewers. She has to swallow her pride and force herself to be open to Caleb’s notes and guidance no matter how hard it is when it comes to not wanting to change how she writes. And it makes it both easier and harder for her due to Caleb’s smirky and handsome face.

I admired how intellectual and sophisticated the writing is while still blending in humor and romance. It was interesting to also see all the thought and works that goes into making sex scenes on film. Great debut for this author!

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Thank you to Harper Perennials and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The screen adaptation of Tasha’s novel is underway, but unfortunately, those in charge of its production have different ideas about the details of her cherished story. When a “translator” is brought in to add steamy scenes, she finds herself forced to compromise her ideals and reconsider what her novel will become on stage—all while navigating this process alongside the captivating Caleb, a charismatic Angeleno.

A nuanced blend of women’s literature and romance, this story follows a staunch feminist who has been burned in the past by men who didn’t take her seriously. Fiercely protective of her work and values, she grapples with trust and compromise in a distinctly modern, post-#MeToo landscape. This novel goes beyond the typical romance, offering a thoughtful exploration of personal growth—showing that changing one’s mind can be a beautiful, mature evolution.

The setting is equally compelling—South Florida comes alive as a character in its own right, adding richness to the story. Overall, this novel is fresh, thought-provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.