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.

A chance meeting at a party, an instant connection, and a lie.... that spirals when two people who definitely shouldn't be falling for each other meet again and everything is put on the line if their secret gets out. Halley comes from an abusive home that she has to endure and when she's locked out of her house she decides to hang out at a party... where she meets Reed, a older gorgeous man who is twice her age who is looking for his daughter at the same party. They have an instant connection and Halley lies about her age... but before anything happens her lie is revealed and she runs off. Then after a terrible fight at her home that makes it impossible and unsafe for her to return she is taken in by her new friend Tara... Tara who introduces Halley to her dad... who happens to be Reed, the guy Halley has a connection to that she definitely shouldn't. Halley and Reed definitely shouldn't give into their feelings but being in constant proximity to each other isn't helping... and every time they're in a room together the connection is undeniable. What is Halley and Reed willing to risk if their secret is found out and just how far will they take it before it implodes in their face? As a lover of age gap romances this was a sweet slow burn one and I definitely enjoyed it. I do think that if you enjoy Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas you'll have a fantastic time with this one. Halley has been through so much but still stays so hopeful about everything while Reed is a realist but he just cares so much. I really devoured this book and definitely loved the slow burn of it all.

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you SO much for this book!!! Man the tension was realllll in this book!! I love a good age gap, forbidden romance!

Older by Jennifer Hartmann was such a good read. It was a slow burn with a lot of tension, it was sad, and it was romantic. I have a love hate relationship with Reed he could be really stupid but also he will always have my heart.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Jennifer Hartmann has a way of writing about intense situations with high emotional impact and endearing characters who make you be invested in their happily ever after. That is what I love about her writing...but I could do without the spice that also is included on the pages. She does a great job of writing the emotional intimacy between couples and that is what captures me.

To be honest, this book was almost too much of an age gap romance, not the number of years between but when the physical attraction began with Halley being 17 (but she lied to Reed about her age.) Halley had so much trauma/abuse from her parents and felt way older than her years. The connection to Reed seemed genuine and the two felt equal on a maturity level on some sense. But then I was hit with the reality that Halley was 17! Definitely a lot of gray moments...and Reed was her best friend's dad to add another layer.

I was really conflicted on this one between enjoying sweet moments to feeling icky when I really thought about things.

3 stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well I was not prepared for this book to be what it was. At all. I very much went into this book with absolutely no context whatsoever. This wasn’t my first time reading this author and I feel like I should’ve been somewhat mentally prepared for the roller coaster this book took me on. But alas, here we are.

What a ride. What a beautiful journey. What beautiful characters. What a touching story. I don’t think there was anything that I didn’t love about this book. Halley and Reed are really something special. They're both flawed characters, but they’re characters you’re rooting for from the very beginning of the story. This book ripped my heart out and then put all the pieces back together again. Honestly, it had me wiping my tears away while I was at work. But in the end, it was so worth it. It touched my soul and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Another top read for 2025!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Upon finding out the FMC is 17 when the first spice scene happens, (and she lied to him about her age, after the fact her personality is trying to be edgy) this was a DNF for me. I personally just feel icky when any romance happens when the FMC is underage.

Finished in a day it was a beautiful story. I would have liked for her to have been at least a year older when they met. Loved the soul bond these two shared. There was a very necessary slow burn along with so much angst and longing. I couldn’t put it down I was addicted.

https://fable.co/review/ccd4a503-8fd2-448b-8c7e-ec3099b0bfb8/share

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7546269812

https://amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R30MJHD5IRAM08?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp