"No one’s ever stood up for you like that before, haven’t they? No one‘s ever fought. And that’s bullshit. You deserve to have someone in your corner, fighting like hell for you. For your honor, you’re worth. I want to be that person. I’ll be that guy … even if that’s all I’ll ever be.”

This was a really great age gap and taboo romance. I really like Halley. She had an awful childhood with an abusive father and a mother who didn’t care. I loved how her best friend Tara and her mother Whitney took Halley in. The chemistry between Halley and Reed was perfect. It made for a great story that Reed ends up being Tara’s dad. I loved all of the mutual pining we get and the steamy scenes perfect. At times I found Tara and Halley’s relationship annoying since it seemed like Halley was way too mature for Tara at times. That being said, I loved how the story and relationship developed between Reed and Halley and I loved the ending!

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Age gap
Forbidden romance
Mutual pining
Best friend’s dad
Forced proximity
Protective hero
Slow burn romance
Taboo romance

A forbidden age-gap, slow-burn romance packed with angst

Halley is a young woman who’s had a tough start in life. From abuse to neglect, she’s been wandering through life searching for a way out—until she meets Reed at a house party.

I usually find age-gap romances a bit tricky. On one hand, I can see the appeal and chemistry, but they often feel a little off to me. Add in the forbidden element—he’s her best friend’s dad—and I was worried it would cross into creepy territory. But it absolutely didn’t.

The chemistry between Halley and Reed felt genuine, and Reed’s efforts to keep his distance made the story even more compelling. Their connection was too powerful to ignore, and the relationship was written with care and depth—never sleazy.

The slow-burn tension and will-they/won’t-they dynamic made it completely addictive. And the way the author goes into detail about how these relationships affect those around them too gave such great context to the other characters in the book.

Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favourite authors. Every book of hers hits differently, and I’m so glad I finally picked this one up. It’s been on my TBR for a while, and the new edition print was the perfect excuse to dive in.

If you’re usually unsure about age-gap romances, I’d still recommend giving this a try—it really exceeded my expectations.

Trigger warnings: This book contains scenes and references to child abuse and violence.

The tea ☕️

❤️- Age gap romance
🚫 - forbidden romance
💔 - child abuse and violence
🔥 - slow burn
🌶️ - 3/5

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟
Older by Jennifer Hartmann.
I have read a few books by Jennifer Hartmann, with all different difficult tropes, but this age gap, forbidden romance, is different. I don't think I can get past the fact that the female lead is 17 and the male character is 30-something. I'm 31 and I can't even imagine a love interest being 17. Just my opinion, so I'm going to DNF at 20%! I know it's fiction, but I can't get past the huge age gap. Sorry!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars! If you love books with lots of angst and age gap, specifically the best friend’s dad trope, then this one is for you! Emotional rollercoaster frrrr

This was a wonderful read and romance. The relationship was never forced and seeing the natural progression of these characters really helped to immerse me in the story.

read if you looove…
✨best friend’s dad
✨angst & hurt/comfort
✨set in the 90’s
✨forbidden//age gap

OOOHHHH the tension. the yearning. the angst. the “I know we shouldn’t but I want to.” this one was absolutely delicious. I finished this book in less than 24 hours because I just had to know where these two were going. I was so captivated by this one and I couldn’t put it down. this was my first Jennifer Hartmann, and it definitely won’t be my last.

I feel like I never know what to expect when I start a Jennifer Hartmann book (with this only being the second so far). But she always takes us on such a rollercoaster of emotions, this one was no different.

We follow Reed and Halley, and we get that instant forbidden love.

At a party, Halley lies about her age. Makes herself a little bit older. Reed’s trying to find his daughter. He meets Halley out back by the water, they have a long conversation, and had they not been interrupted - it would have gone much further.

Coming from an abusive household, Halley moves in with her best friend and her mom. The guy she just so happened to lie about her age to months previously? Well yeah, that ends up being her best friend’s dad.

I want to say she’s 16 at the start, but the two have such a strong connection. Their relationship (the physical aspects) happens after she’s 18. So I can see this potentially triggering some people. Even the best friend ends up hating her dad when it gets out and has claims that he groomed her growing up. So, you know, it’s different for everyone.

I loved the vibes of this dark romance book. Best friend's dad never looked so good! As someone in an age gap relationship. this scratched the itch!

The most perfect forbidden age gap romance that I've read in a long time. Jennifer Hartmann has incredible writing and really knew how to navigate the age gap/ forbidden trope. The chemistry between the main characters was electrifying. This was a fun and spicy read that I thoroughly enjoy. Definitely recommend.

This book took me on a journey let me tell you 🥲🫶🏻

I won't go into detail because I fully believe you should go into this one completely blind - just trust me!! Prepare to be emotionally destroyed (in the best way)

As someone who doesn't have a great history with age gaps, I literally loved this so much. It didn't feel cringey at all, this was written so incredibly well. I definitely will be picking up more books from this author.

Also the 80s/90s vibes were top tier!!

“do you like this song?” - “it’s my favorite.”

“Every moment with you fucking hurts.” .... “Every moment without you…hurts so much more.”

“He sees me.”

“Imperfections are what bind us together. Our common thread. We’re all capable of screwing up, but we’re all capable of forgiving, too. That’s what makes us stronger humans.”

I have recieved an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Did I like this book? No.
Would I have liked it more if it didn't take itself so seriously? Yes. *cough* "Bleakness oozed. Misery prevailed" (direct quote) *cough*
Was the concept decent? Yeah, aside from the part where they met when she was 17 and he was in his 30s. (granted, he was ashamed) and also that I didn't care for the two main characters.
I still love an age gap book, but I read them knowing it's entirely ficticious. This book blended the trope with reality, and the result was what I expected- icky.

I loved this!! It was so different from anything I’ve read and definitely a little out of my comfort zone, but it was amazing!

I was a little unsure about the age gap at first, but I got no cringy feelings at all!

Why was this so emotional!! Also Whitney, you stole the show.

Thankyou!!

I will start this novel by saying I did enjoy this book, and I think especially for its content, the novel is written very well.
I have some questions around the story, but I’m deciding to leave this book where it is - in fiction.
This book was heartbreaking, emotional and shocking to read. The age gap between the characters was definitely something I struggled to look past - but feel better knowing the characters really struggled with the age gap as well.
I wish the friendship between Tara and Halley was stronger at the end of this novel. And although I felt Tara was being a bit over the top when she threatened her father. Their scene together was exactly what this book needed. I need a sequel where everyone gets therapy and all live happily.

After having read Still Beating, I cannot fathom why I went into this novel thinking it would be a simple sexy read. I should know better, right!? 😮‍💨

I went ‘through some things’ while reading this. At one point sobbing well into 3am with the bed shaking and my red puffy face was not at its best during my work’s early morning video meeting.

I’ve had a personal trauma that made me more sensitive to the plot so I would definitely recommend heeding the trigger warnings. However, I am so glad that I stuck to it despite my emotional reaction.

The plot was beautifully done with Reed and Halley really showcasing what a deep connection looks like. They were imperfect and the timing was off. Halley had a difficult life. Reed had to make tough choices.

I absolutely loved the supporting characters, especially for being so amazing to Halley. Like life, the story is full of ups and downs. Things don’t go as planned. Sometimes things implode. But it’s also beautiful, funny, curious, and full of love.

All in all, a hard-won love story that will break you and put you back together.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

This was a different one for me as I don’t usually go for age-gaps. But honestly this one didn’t even feel like an age-gap because Reed didn’t feel that old. He definitely didn’t act like a almost-40yr old father. And Halley had been through so much that she acted much older than her age. Overall I enjoyed seeing Halley grow and heal from her past, but I felt the ending with her and Reed getting together felt a bit forced. I had a really hard time believing that his daughter Tara would have ‘understood’ their feelings and encouraged a relationship. I mean if I was in Tara’s shoes I definitely wouldn’t have, it’s too weird. A honorable mention to my two favorite characters - Whitney and Ladybug. These two were the only ones truly likable. Not sure if I just couldn’t relate to Halley and Reed’s situation or I found her dedication to him too much. This is probably a great book for some, but not for me.

This book is well-written and keeps you engaged, so I have to give it 4 stars. However, there was a part of me that felt like I was reading something inappropriate. The story revolves around a 17-year-old girl falling in love with her best friend’s father, which is a significant age gap that I find problematic. I know I’m old-fashioned in that regard, but I can’t help but feel that the age difference is too great.

Despite this, I must admit that the story is incredibly powerful. You get right into the heart of the emotions, including the angst, love, and loss. This is why I have to give it 4 stars. I didn’t read the plot or reviews before reading it, and I’m not sure if that would have influenced my decision. However, if you can overcome the age gap, this is a truly remarkable story.

I haven’t read many age gap romances, and I’m not sure if maybe the trope just isn’t for me, or if it was this age pairing— seeing as how she was seventeen when they just met and he was thirty four. Adding in that she doesn’t age up for the majority of the book (she spends the majority of it at 18/19) and the added layer that he’s her best friends dad, it kind of gave me the ick a bit.
I think if she was the 21 she initially said, and he the 34, I would feel slightly better about it.
The book did acknowledge the taboo of it all, did a good job balancing Halley’s youth with the maturity she has gained through her trauma and demonstrating how that trauma can age you mentally and physically. However, some of Halley’s actions were very of her age which serves to remind us her age. In juxtaposition, Tara— Reed’s daughter and Halley’s friend, comes off as much younger since she grew up in a stable environment in comparison to Halley.
It does pose the question of how can Reed be attracted to someone who is his daughter’s age, but they do mention that Halley looks older. So the story does address a lot of the “but why” or “how” questions—- therefore I’m concluding that this trope just isn’t for me, and it wasn’t really the book. I did keep reading it because I was curious how it was going to end, and I did like the writing itself. The ages just kept throwing me. I wanted to give the trope a shot!

Thank you Bloom Books for the read!

Jennifer Hartmann's writing is truly captivating, and I especially appreciate how she allows her characters time to build a connection before diving into a serious relationship. Older turned out to be a great read, and I’m glad I didn’t DNF it despite my initial discomfort with the age gap.

Reed and Halley meet one night, and the chemistry is immediate. He’s significantly older, which didn’t bother Halley—but it did bother me. At 17, Halley is still so young, especially considering Reed has a 16-year-old daughter who happens to be Halley’s best (and only) friend.

Halley has endured an incredibly tough life, which has forced her to grow up quickly. Still, she’s just a teenager trying to figure out who she is and what she wants. I really appreciated how the author paced the relationship, allowing Halley time to heal and mature before things became serious.

Also, a special shoutout to Whitney—she was such a standout character.

If you're in the mood for an emotional, angsty, and forbidden romance, this is definitely one I’d recommend!

Halley grew up in an abusive, loveless home and is just longng for a connection. Which is why when she meets a much older man at a party and they hit it off, she lies about her age. Then she finds out that man, Reed, is her best friend's dad. Tara and her mom Whitney took Halley in after a bad incident at home sent her to the hospital and have become her found family. Reed is determined she's too young but can't seem to stay away and Halley knows nothing can ever happen between them without destroying her friendship.
This is a slow burn, age gap, angsty romance. This author is great at portraying all the emotions of this taboo, seemingly hopeless relationship. I wish there'd been more of the story after they were together, but I really enjoyed the epilogue.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks netgalley for the chance to read this!
This tells the incredibly slow burn story between Halley, a troubled girl with an abusive past and Reed, the father of her best friend and the man she has insatiable attraction to.
I want to preface: I LOVE Jennifer Hartmann. Wrong Heart destroyed me. And in so many ways this has the same feelings: the intimacy and the pain between Halley/Reed was so intense. I LOVED it. But where this lacks for me, is that their pain and intimacy also makes me feel real icky? Like don't get me wrong, I know thats the point, but I couldn't sink into that messy and instead just felt real weird about it. It was also incredibly slow moving: I wanted them to figure out there stuff much earlier.
If an age gap is something that you love...you will LOVE this. The emotion, the steam, the drama: A++. I just couldn't get past the feeling.