Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with this story. I did like the audiobook narrator though and would consider listening to more by her in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding was lighthearted and our fmc Clementine 🍊was a cutie! Set in LA, Clementine has broken up with her long term boyfriend after accepting the fact that they want different futures. She now gets to explore her bisexuality and a new life as a single woman in LA until she reconnects with Chloe. The pair quickly find themselves in a fake dating situation, but Clementine never feels fully comfortable with it and is actually falling for Chloe. On top of trying not to fall for her fake girlfriend, while hanging out with Chloe’s friends, Clementine is also having imposter syndrome, and never knows if she is “queer” enough. Regardless of her reservations, Clementine is able to grow in her new lifestyle while gaining new friends and memories along the way.

I found this audiobook very endearing and thought our fmc was adorable. I also enjoyed the bisexual representation and related to Clementines frequent reassurance that queerness does not look a specific way. There were a lot of pop culture references and some of them I could not relate to as I found they were geared more towards millennials.

I really enjoyed this. I received the first book in this series in a book box and loved it too. As soon as I finished On Her Terms I bought the second book on Audible and read it, and loved it too lol. I'm sure I'll now have to go back and read Amy's entire backlist.

on her terms by amy spalding - a fake dating sapphic romance!

clementine is fresh off of a long term relationship where she began to feel boxed in by what society expects of women her age. after pushing herself (through a lot of research & googling, of course) to go out to a local gay bar one night, she runs into chloe. what begins as friendship turns into a fake dating agreement between the two, mutually benefiting events they have coming up on their social calendars. clementine and chloe embark on a crazy & fun ride of fake dating - navigate topics such as mental health, fatphobia, adhd, community, and pressures / expectations within relationships.

i feel like i wasn't hooked initially, but once they agreed to start fake dating & the wedding was looming, i was really excited to watch their story unfold! my favorite part of the book was the running theme of found family. i absolutely love this trope in LGBTQ+ books - i thought it was so beautiful to watch clementine enter into a new social circle & see what unwavering love and support for your people looks like. i also liked that there were multiple storylines happening outside of the fake dating, like with clementines career and how determined she was to always bring her best self to the table. i thought it was hilarious that clementine full on acknowledged that she was living a romance book fake dating trope - and inevitably did the thing the main character always promises they won't do. the pop culture references were also perfect, from MUNA and chappell roan to wicked!

i would say the only negative for me was not initially being invested, but i also don't listen to audiobooks very often so it could have just been me adjusting to a new format! this was my first approved book through netgalley, so thank you so much for letting me listen to this book! can't wait to dive further into this amy spalding's catalog!

Clementine, a newly single bisexual and self-proclaimed 'baby gay,' meets Chloe, a feral, whimsical manic pixie dream girl in this fake dating story so that both can get their friends off their backs about being single. It's a pretty simple set up, but I never mind that because I thought the plot moved along well. There was a point about 30% in when I considered quitting though because I just didn't see any chemistry between the characters. Chloe is so *whimsical* and Clementine as a self-described "twee" girl just... they didn't do it for me.

That being said, I thought Clementine, as a whole, had very relatable shit going on in her life-- friends getting older and having babies, figuring out career goals, keeping it together, being too old for your 20s, but not wanting the same thing as everyone else in their 30s (which that itself seemed like a gross exaggeration, but for the sake of the story I'm not that bothered by it). As someone who is fresh out of a relationship with a man, she is fairly nervous about exploring dating women and I think that comes across really well. But overall, some of it was a little too exaggerated for me.

Chloe, on the other hand, is extremely flat for me. Ever sentence out of her mouth starts with "Clementine..." and then some pseudo-Dude (Lebowski, dude) like sentence. And I think that's what kept me from ever really attaching any kind of attraction between the two characters. Chloe is flat. She doesn't want to date. Okay... that's her entire personality. That an a musicals playlist.

Overall, it was alright.

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding
Out in Hollywood series #3. Contemporary sapphic romance. Can be read as a stand-alone although the couples from the prior books are secondary characters here subsequent to their stories. Fake relationship troupe.
Clementine has always known she is attracted to women but only recently broken up with a long term boyfriend when he wanted children. At thirty-six, Clementine knows she doesn’t want children. She’s admitted to being bisexual in her head only up until now. She believes she’s ready to try something new. When Chloe Lee asks Clem to be her fake plus one for a wedding, Clem says no. But the more they talk, and it still seems like a really bad idea, Clem gives in to nagging in her head that it’s exactly what she wants to try. And so Clem and Chloe begin a public fake relationship in front of her family, friends, and coworkers.
Clem is loving her new relationship and friendships formed because of it. Could it become real? Or is Chloe going to stick to her free and easy attitude?

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and audiobook of this story. The narration is performed by Lori Prince who has done many other sapphic romances. There are specific voices and tempo for each Clem and Chloe with emotions clear and easy to follow. There are a couple of clear edit voice-overs but they are short and merge well with the whole. I enjoyed the performance and got a clear picture of each of the women as the story progressed.
I listened at my usual speed of 1.5 to match reading and conversation speed.
I believe the formats are interchangeable with each having benefits fits and neither having an advantage over the other.

Clem learns to deal with her own questions and fears of a new lifestyle. It’s both easier and harder than she expected. She’s out and in love. But Chloe doesn’t want more than the fake dating and Clem has fallen for her. So how to convince her to make it real?
I loved the friendships the best in this story. Having a good friendship can make everything better and easier to handle.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher RBmedia.

Clementine is a divorced woman who is coming out as Bi. She has many events to attend and is approached by Chloe who also has events to attend and doesn't want to show up alone. They propose a deal. No relationship, but to fake-date. I don't have to tell you how it turns out.

Many thanks to Net Galley and RB Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Clementine has identified as bisexual her entire adult life, yet she has spent the last 20 years with the same man. While their relationship has been happy, he is beginning to lead them toward a traditional lifestyle, including marriage, children, and a white picket fence—things Clementine has never wanted or needed. On her first visit to a gay bar, Clementine meets Chloe, a quirky and funny lesbian dog groomer with a flair for jumpsuits. Chloe embraces Clementine as her “baby gay,” guiding her through the LGBTQ+ world and inviting her to be her “plus one” at an upcoming wedding. What begins as a wedding invitation blossoms into a beautiful friendship. Chloe introduces Clementine to her vibrant circle of lesbian friends, filled with lively brunches and playful group texts, creating a rich new social life for her. Clementine finds herself caught between her new friends, who truly understand her, and her old friends, entrenched in the traditional family model, discussing weddings and babies in ways that feel uninspiring to her. In an effort to confront the need to “come out” to her family, Clementine decides to introduce Chloe as her girlfriend to them, signaling a powerful step toward her true self. This story addresses many aspects of the bisexual experience, including the challenges of coming out repeatedly and clarifying that bisexuality is not a “choice” — it’s something one has always been. It also explores the feelings of not easily fitting into either camp: feeling more disconnected with straight girlfriends while also feeling out of place with queer girlfriends. Chloe embodies what many “baby gays” might want or need during their late coming-out experiences and does it dreamily well. Clementine often expresses her internal struggle with embracing her love for “twee” fashion and her identity as a “girly girl,” which complicates her ability to feel or present as queer. Additionally, the narrative highlights Clementine’s unapologetic acceptance of her curvy figure and Chloe’s unabashed affection of it. Plus-sized women are frequently underrepresented in romance novels, and when they are, the descriptions tend to be brief. However, the author gives us Clementine who reflects on her love for clothes and her body shape, allowing readers to experience a woman who is completely unashamed of her body and confidently presents a figure that offers more to love.

Lori Prince was truly the ideal choice to narrate this audiobook. She infuses a delightful comedic element that few narrators can bring to life with such finesse. Lori breathes life into Chloe, portraying her as a quirky yet confident and vivacious character, while Clementine dazzles with her unique blend of self-assuredness and unapologetic attitude, all wrapped in a generous dose of warmth and kindness. Lori effortlessly captures Spalding’s distinctive character, showcasing her remarkable talent. As is often the case with Prince's performances, when paired with exceptional writing, she has the ability to leave you breathless after a steamy scene, only to turn around and have you weeping moments later. This is one of those captivating books that takes you on a whirlwind emotional journey, forcing you to hang on tightly as you eagerly await the Happily Ever After — a long-awaited reward that, in this story, deliciously lingers until nearly the very end.

The only real complaints I have about the book is the excessive use of the word "twee" and it felt like the plot started dragging a bit around 75% in. Other than that, perfection!!

Thank you to Amy Spalding and Kensington Books for the audiobook ARC of On Her Terms!

This was my first book by Amy and oh my gosh was it an absolute delight. With main characters in their 30s, having fleshed out careers, with different needs for their happily ever afters than the typical, and a bisexual woman who was dealing with bi erasure, this was REFRESHING on soooo many levels!

I saw a review or two critiquing the personalities of the two main characters and I think it's very silly. Chloe likes to banter, and largely Clementine is open to the banter. The times when it pushed too far, it was clearly addressed. Chloe is an avoidant attachment type, but she has soooo much growth by the end and she's clearly struggling throughout. If anything, it made the characters that much more believable.

I can't think of a single thing I didn't enjoy about this book and would highly recommend it! I'm so glad to see a lot of stellar sapphic books coming out lately and Amy is definitely going to be someone I seek out more books from.

Thank you again for the arc! This book is probably out by the time you're reading this review, so check it out!

This was an absolutely adorable fake dating story. Clementine and Chloe were both just related and their fake dating turned loved story was so stinking cute! I found myself smiling and giggling throughout this story. I also loved all the side characters and the pets! I hope we get more with this group!

3.5⭐
Such a sexy, hilarious Sapphic rom-com about fake dating (yes, even the main character was annoyed about this trope, lol), with very real emotions & insecurities, making it all the more relatable.

Love, love, love!

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This was a good book. Not great, but good.

Clementine is fresh off a decade-long relationship and stepping into her baby gay era. She doesn't see the appeal of the heteronormative milestones of marriage and children, despite none of her family or friends understanding this. Feeling misunderstood and little respect for her choices, Clementine agrees to play pretend with Chloe, a woman she met at a bar. She pretends to be commitment-phobe Chloe's girlfriend for a wedding to pacify her friends, in exchange for a date to her own parent's anniversary party.

I love me a fake dating trope. This was a nice slow burn, but not full of angst and sexual tension-- the two women truly become friends before accidentally falling in love. I do wish Chloe had more of an atonement for the douchbaggery she gave to Clementine, who did nothing wrong but admit her feelings and stand up for herself.

This was the third in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. That being said, I will now proceed to read the previous two books.

I received this book as a digital advanced reader audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars I think I might need a break from fake dating books, but I still really enjoyed this one.

This book is about Clementine, who I believe is a brand new character, a bisexual woman who has recently broken up with her high school sweetheart, and Chloe, who is introduced in the first book in the series. They meet at a bar and Chloe remembers Clementine because she's friends with her boss, who is also in the friend group that this book is about. She convinces Clementine to fake date her so that she get her friends off her back and have a date to the couple who met in the first book's wedding, and Clementine can have experience dating a woman and be more appealing to other women looking for women. Clementine doesn't realize that she is going be fake dating in front of her boss and is mad about it, etc. etc.

I hadn't read any books in this series when I was approved for the ARC, so I quickly read the first one in the series, which was not my cup of tea. The friend group and love interest were great, but the narrator was just so depressing that she really brought down the book for me. That was not an issue in this book. Though both of the main characters do have real issues to work through, they're complex but reasonable people and I found the experience of reading this book to be largely joyful,

I didn't have a chance to read the 2nd in the series, but I will. I'd recommend just jumping into this one if you like it, because it doesn't seem like there is too much spoiled from that one in this (in a romance you have to assume the leads end up together) and this one was absolutely charming.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the ARC for unbiased review..

On her Terms

First off, thank you RBmedia for the advance audiobook of this absolutely delightful story!

As I started listening and got to know our FMC, Clementine, I found her charming, vulnerable, brave, and relatable. I’ll be honest and admit I wondered more than once if this book was written for me.

I also found the narrator’s voice to have a fun quirkiness to it and her pacing was excellent - I often listen to books faster than 1.0 speed but not this one. The one thing I found myself yearning for a little (especially towards the end) was a bit more of a vocal distinction between Chloe and Clementine in some scenes. This is a very minor critique and didn’t detract much at all from my overall experience and I’d be excited to listen to another book narrated by Lori Prince. I particularly find the way she expresses excitement to be delightful.

By now, most readers of romance have read plenty of fake dating tropes, but I’ve never come across one that pokes fun at itself in this manner - Spalding delivers a very fresh take on a somewhat tired trope.

I found most of the characters to be really delightful and am excited to learn this is the third book in a series, I will definitely be reading the first two.

I want to take a specific moment to thank Amy Spalding for writing a book about a woman transitioning out of a straight-presenting phase of her life. The feeling Clementine has re: coming out for only “having queer thoughts” is very relatable. Bi people often feel like we don’t get a “seat at the table” and it felt nice to have some validation that we are a part of the community also.

“I’m entering this new phase in life and I should probably do it with as much honesty as possible” - Clementine (“YES, Clem, go girl!” I cheered).

If you are looking for a light hearted WLW romance with themes of found family and finding your voice, add this to the TBR and bump it up to the top of the list!

After Clementine breaks up with her boyfriend of more than 10 years, she is ready to embrace her new single status along with exploring her queer identity. On her first night out at a gay bar, she meets Chloe, a brash and bold woman that Clem thinks she could never have. When Chloe suggests they fake date for an upcoming wedding she has to attend, Clem can't say no. This surely will help Clem find her queer identity and Chloe impress her coupled friends, no need for developing feelings…

I loved the representation of a queer character exploring their identity later in life. Clem was also a plus-size character and I love to see more plus-size characters as leading roles in romantic comedies. Chloe was also a kind of character that you don't often see in romance books. She led with a bold, brash, and blunt exterior. This, at times, made her seem a bit harsh but in the end, as the layers were peeled back, she was trying to mask her emotions underneath. I also appreciated that they showed a different way of living and different life goals at the end. You don't need to settle down into a typical family structure to be happy or to be with someone you love.

In "On Her Terms," Amy Spalding delivers a charming and heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of queer relationships through the lens of a delightful fake dating trope. The story centers around Clementine, a newly out bisexual navigating her "baby gay era," and Chloe, an experienced lesbian who offers to help her learn the ropes. Their chemistry is palpable from the outset, and readers will find themselves rooting for the growth of their unconventional romance.
Spalding's writing shines as she crafts an engaging narrative filled with witty banter and relatable humor. The premise of a fake relationship that quickly spirals into genuine feelings is executed with finesse, creating laugh-out-loud moments alongside poignant scenes of personal growth. As the two protagonists navigate their feelings amidst a backdrop of weddings and social events, the emotional stakes rise, highlighting both the excitement and confusion that come with new love.
The supporting cast adds depth to the storyline, particularly Chloe's friend group, which reflects a found family dynamic resonant for many LGBTQ+ readers. Themes of friendship, communication, and the pressures of societal expectations are woven seamlessly into the narrative, enriching the overall experience. Spalding's sensitive treatment of topics like coming out later in life and plus-size relationships deepens the story's impact, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
While the book is largely a joy to read, some moments feel slightly repetitive, particularly in relation to Clementine's discomfort with traditional relationship expectations. However, Spalding deftly balances this with a plethora of diverse characters and heartfelt moments that make Clem and Chloe's journey worth following.

Often the blurbs of a book or audio book say hilarious or funny. I often thought, well, nice!
But in this case, it was absolutely true!
Chloe is such a quick-witted, naturally funny, sarcastic and fantastic character. I want to spend hours with her.
In combination with Clementine they are really hilarious!
And mix little Jesse Pinkman and especially Fernando into the whole thing and you have perfection.
Regardless of the fact that the circle of friends is wonderful and supportive and the snarky brother is the slightly annoying but an important part that Clementine needs to grow as a character and a person in this story.
Lori Prince has the perfect voice for these funny and above all wonderfully ironic moments from Chloe and also the deep and scratchy voice for the extremely hot moments!
She is great.
The whole thing is great and deserves to be heard or at least read by everyone!!
Thanks so much for the ARC audiobook. This is my honest opinion and review!

I love the way Amy Spalding writes a universe! In this story, there's friendship growing pains, chosen family, sapphic love, and defining your own future. Spalding also writes some of the best fat representation I've read.

I listened to an advanced listening copy and I loved Lori Prince's narration.

Clementine, a bisexual woman and marketing professional, ends her longterm relationship with her ex-boyfriend after realizing that want different things. She runs into Chloe, a lesbian woman who owns a dog-grooming business, at a local queer bar. They've technically already met, but Chloe doesn't share that is because her friend is Chloe's boss. (Layers!) After both lamenting over upcoming events that would be softer with a date, they decide to fake date (my favorite trope).

Chloe is a bit harsh and eschews relationships, but in a way that shows this is because of her past. Clementine struggles with stating her feelings with her friends and family. Chloe's use of "baby gay" aimed at Clementine might be the only time it's felt like a kindness rather than a hard jab, to me.

Big pros: I loved the way Clementine doesn't want a life path that looks like the one so many of her friends and family took. Spalding really shows how it feels to be this person in the friend group and how it feels to make new, queer friends who also queer their relationships to some extent. It's important to find friends who value ALL relationships, not just their partner.

I also love the fat rep. Clementine knows she is fat, and she exists in a world that hates fat people. There are friends and coworkers who are also fat. She also lives in a city and works in an industry that makes it even harder. While those realities are present and she does have insecurities, it's not the main focus of her internal voice or the way she moves through the world. She finds joy in her body, and so do her lovers!

There's third act drama that made me talk out loud to coach Clementine about unacceptable behavior from Chloe. I think this processing over time where they are absent from each other's lives happened in Spalding's other book. While it's probably more realistic, the book being told in Clementine's voice means we don't see as much accountability from Chloe, in my opinion.

I'm glad someone finally tells Greg off. Ugh.

Content Notes --
Moderate: Outing and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying

On Her Terms Honest ARC Audiobook Review:

Comedic contemporary romance about being true to oneself and one’s desires.

Chloe and Clementine decide to follow through with a seemingly beneficial fake dating experience and plan for it to last through Chloe’s friends’ upcoming wedding. With chemistry and witty banter, the two begin to fall for one another.

It seems like the story is slowly progressing at times but possibly because of very realistic fear the two have as the relationship develops.

Clementine begins to reflect more throughout the story, leading to more growth of character. Navigating friendships through various stages in life is not easy and clementines story illustrates that well.

I really liked it!! Definitely one to add to your TBR!

⭐️LGBTQ+
⭐️Fake Dating
⭐️Contemporary Romance
⭐️One Bed Trope
⭐️Reflection and Reconciliation

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

4.5 stars

I've read the first two of this series, first was ok, second was a bit forgettable, but this one I liked best. Maybe its because it was fake dating or maybe it was because it was in audio and the narrator was fantastic but this was significantly better in my opinion. I really enjoyed both characters and the whole "baby gay" aspect. We got fake dating, friends wedding, and of course only one bed so a sapphic romance full of the best tropes. I felt the 3rd act conflict was a bit unnecessary but worked well in the story and with the characters so I didn't hate it. Overall I had a good time.

Regarding the narrator, I loved her. Her voices for the 2 MCs felt exactly right for who the characters were. Her acting choices were also fantastic. I think she was the perfect choice for a sapphic single POV romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!