This book was quite intriguing and threw me for a loop. It not what I thought it would be. Its not ny usual read but I enjoyed it and thought the author did a good job. I recommend.

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This was such a delightful surprise of a book - however, I think the marketing may get this into the hands of the wrong kinds of readers. I would have loved to see the summary celebrating that this is a trans-inclusive lesbian story - I absolutely loved the exploration of Sabrina, the bitter realities balanced with this incredible and validating connection with Delilah, and her overall badassness as an incredibly sexy sub. I was swooning right along with both women - Sabrina & Delilah.

I adore the agency that Sabrina has even as she’s been whisked into subspace by this powerful woman. There’s even great discussions about the dynamics between them, even to the point of Delilah not being able to let go of some power because that’s all she’s ever known as a rich child of privilege. I think the author being a trans woman really brought all the nuances needed to the perfect light. It all read so smoothly and was so achingly romantic alongside the more severe sexual relationship between the two women.
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A heads up for one thing though, readers only surface level familiar with domme/sub will also be surprised at the puppy play that develops between the two - it’s not my personal kink, but hey, I had a great time reading it anyway and it wasn’t a turn off in anyway - though it does come on a bit unexpectedly.
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Nevertheless, To Please Her was a delicious little book and I’m eager to see what this author writes next. I am so intrigued!

*I received an eARC from Bold Stroke Books & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

This is my first read with a trans main character. When me meet Sabrina, we see her juggle living authentically while struggling to cope with past traumas and justifiable fears. Sabrina lost everything (i.e. family, friend, fiancée, and career) to fully embrace who she was always meant to be. As a result, it’s made Sabrina hesitant to leave her comfort zone. Sabrina and Delilah have immediate, intense chemistry. Almost a cat and mouse vibe. Delilah is the first romantic partner to treat Sabrina’s trans identity as a sign of strength instead of a flaw. While Delilah may seem like the answer to Sabrina’s long abandoned prayers, Delilah is also fighting her demons. Their budding relationship gives them the courage to take charge of their lives, regardless of toxic familial relationships and societal norms. I wouldn’t classify this book as “erotica” because it was kind of tame. However, I enjoyed the story and found the characters compelling. I’m glad Sabrina got her HEA.

Rating: 3.75/5 (rounding to 4)

Lesbian BDSM romance? Yes, please! To Please Her is a sultry, emotionally rich novel that pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go.
The story follows Sabrina Doyle, a hardworking woman juggling two jobs and zero time for love—until a chance coffee spill introduces her to the magnetic Delilah Holte. What begins as an awkward accident turns into a series of electric encounters that neither of them can ignore. Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really makes this novel shine is how it explores themes of identity, vulnerability, and self-discovery with care and nuance.
I was genuinely surprised by how much depth this story had. Beyond the steamy scenes (which are deliciously well-written), there’s real emotional weight here. The characters feel authentic, their struggles relatable, and their growth satisfying. I found myself completely absorbed, even forcing myself to slow down just to savour the experience.
If I had one minor critique, it’s that the pacing lags a little in the middle—some of the internal monologue starts to feel repetitive—but it’s a small bump in an otherwise beautifully crafted, sex-positive, and deeply resonant love story.
If you're looking for a queer romance that’s bold, heartfelt, and unapologetically steamy, To Please Her should be at the top of your TBR.

☆ 3,75 rounded up

I went into this book completely blind—I have never read anything by Elena Abbott—but the blurb of this book intrigued me and I ended up really enjoying this.

This book dives into themes like trans identity, domme/sub dynamics, and personal growth, and Abbott handles all of it with care and depth. I especially appreciated the representation—it was the first book I’ve read featuring a trans main character, and it felt so refreshing and important.

I absolutely loved Abbott’s writing style. It’s super easy to read, flows naturally, and pulled me in from the very first page. The whole cast of this book was diverse and well-written, but the dynamic between Sabrina and Delilah stole the show. Their chemistry? Off the charts from the very first meeting.

If you’re looking for a queer BDSM romance that also has real emotional weight, To Please Her is definitely worth checking out. I’m absolutely planning to read more from Elena Abbott in the future.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Elena Abbott, and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 📚

To Please Her by Elena Abbott is a bold and emotionally layered exploration of power, pleasure, and identity. Steeped in S&M themes and sizzling with intensity, this novel goes beyond eroticism to present a deeply affirming and inclusive story that celebrates the complexities of desire and the strength found in vulnerability.

Abbott weaves a compelling narrative that features a richly diverse cast of LGBTQIA+ characters, offering authentic representation without falling into stereotype. The relationships are nuanced, the emotional stakes are high, and the depiction of kink is both respectful and empowering. Beneath the heat lies a strong current of empathy, making space for themes of acceptance, consent, and chosen family.

What makes To Please Her especially powerful is its message: love, in all its forms, deserves to be seen and honored. This is a story that resonates not only with members of the LGBTQIA+ community but also invites broader audiences to reflect on compassion, authenticity, and the freedom to love without shame.

Provocative, heartfelt, and unapologetically honest, To Please Her is a standout erotic romance that both entertains and enlightens.

Delilah ending up with Cora after a long fight to be with each other 3.5/10 stars

Elena Abbott you did a wonderful job writing this novel and beautiful story and writing thank you 5/5 stars on the writing

Wow read most definitely! Spice levels were maxed on this read! Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Despite the spiciness, I did enjoy the story of the main character finding out new things about herself. May have to have a reread of this in the future! It was like a lesbian haunting adeline!

To Please Her is a beautiful, emotional story about vulnerability, healing, and finding the courage to live your truth—even when the world makes it hard.

This book follows two women from very different walks of life who collide in an unforgettable moment of chemistry. What starts as a chance encounter quickly becomes something deeper: a journey of trust, intimacy, and self-discovery. One woman is learning to reclaim her power and body on her own terms, while the other is finally confronting the fears that have kept her guarded for years.

The romance is raw and magnetic, full of tender moments and deep emotional resonance. The spice? It’s not just there for heat—it enhances the plot and reveals character growth in ways that feel intentional and intimate. The dom/sub dynamic is handled with care, clarity, and genuine connection.

This book has it all: a grounded plot, rich emotional arcs, and yes—definitely some crying moments. It’s about pushing past the expectations of others and choosing to live boldly, authentically, and with love.

A must-read for fans of queer romance, emotional depth, and spice with purpose.

I wanted to love this book, the whole idea lesbian bdsm naive girl gets roped into something literally. And how it was a lesbian romance but included someone who was mtf

But I just didn’t, it just didn’t feel there was much there i knew it would be spicy obviously but I felt the actual plot was lacking.

This book is about a trans character, this book is also about BDSM themes. Those two things when indvidually in a book make that book definitely niche and targeted, so, this book's audience is probably pretty small. It was a good book, short and tight and to the point (which, considering the topic, tickles me with irony). The characters were interesting and kept me engrossed and weren't one note.

But, I will also say that on the blurb on Netgalley at least, there was absolutely no indication that this was anything other than a f/f lesbian bdsm book. (I believe if you go to the BSB site, as well as maybe other seller sites this isn't true, on BSB there is a tag, etc.) I'm just not sure that's the way to go when enticing people to read it.

So, three stars because, yes, it was a good book, but, it also wasn't what it said it was on the tin. (Trust me, I read the blurb a few times after I started the book and was surprised, just to make sure that I hadn't missed something).

This was an ok read I’m not big on erotic books but this one gave me a tear to read it wasn’t too long just right

This book was very interesting. I did not realize that the character of Sabrina was Trans woman until she state it.
It didn't bother me so I kept on reading because Sabrina is a simple and complex character. Delilah is very confident and knows what Sabrina desire. A good character development for who finally got her happiness.

I have been crushing on the idea of To Please Her since December, when Elena Abbott first mentioned it on her blog. The promise of a trans woman, love and kink, a rope class demo bunny, and a woman with reasons for avoiding relationships caught my attention, and the cover . . . well, it had all the elements to make me shiver with anticipation.

So, how does the read stand up to such lofty expectations? Much to my delight, it not only meets them, but exceeds them in every way. I absolutely adored this book. Seriously, it got into my head and my heart early on, and I had to fight myself to not read it all in one sitting, but to stretch it out and enjoy it over the course of a few days.

Sabrina Doyle is a driven young trans woman with no time for love, few friends, and no family. Shunned for her choice to be true to herself, she’s working two jobs and saving for surgery. When she stumbles into a beautiful woman on the street, spilling coffee all over the woman’s blouse, she has no idea where her promise to make it up to her will lead. That woman is Delilah Holte, a bold, confident, kinky professional with her fingers in two local businesses and her heart in domination. She needs a demo bunny for a rope class, and the cute young woman suddenly in her debt is the perfect candidate.

If there’s a more perfect meet-cute in the genre, I have yet to come across it. This is the kind of accidental encounter that dreams are made of, and the blend of awkward, adorable blend of cute and kink is immediately endearing. Sabrina finds herself caught up in this beautiful woman’s wake, powerless to resist as she discovers the surprises of her inner submissive – and for a scene that is largely clothed and chaste, the rope class is as erotic as it is empowering. What’s more, the casual way in which Delilah accepts and embraces Sabrina being trans is fabulous, and that simple acceptance carries through the whole story, with nary a hint of doubt or fetishizing. More authors can learn from how Abbott so sensitively approaches the subject.

There’s so much I loved about this, but it all starts with the dynamic between Sabrina and Delilah. Even though this is a Domme/sub relationship with very different personalities, their life experiences have a lot of parallels, slowly uncovering complementary needs and desires. Abbott explores themes of family and friendship, being true to one’s self, and finding strength in relationships. There are some dark moments in the story, including some deplorable homophobia and transphobia, but it’s not without purpose. We have to understand where these women have come from, along with what they’ve faced (and are facing) to appreciate their relationship journey.

To Please Her is a story that’s beautifully told, an easy read that welcomes you in with open arms and holds you close, right through to the end. The cast of support characters is small, but delightful, including one we don’t meet until near the very end who made me smile. The power-exchange relationship is just that – a relationship, not a scene – and the way Abbott explores submission, subspace, and protocol rings true. I expected to love this . . . I wanted to love this . . . but even I didn’t expect to love it this much.

To Please Her is a heartfelt, sex-positive romance that follows Sabrina, a trans woman, as she navigates BDSM, desire, and self-discovery. What begins as a casual rope demo with the guarded but magnetic Delilah evolves into a deeper emotional journey. The novel shines in its sensitive portrayal of kink, consent, and trans joy, centering a protagonist who is complex, relatable, and learning to embrace her pleasure and power. The emotional depth and authentic representation more than make up for any slow portions that happen throughout the storytelling. A warm, affirming, and steamy read that celebrates growth, love, and connection.

This book was not really what I expected, a lot more sex and BDSM than I anticipated. It did however also contain other interesting story lines so all in all a read I can recommend. It was so nice to see how the Mistress, Delilah, handled her pet, Sabrina. I am not into BDSM in any way but after reading this book I can relate to why some people may like this in their life. Before Sabrina meets Delilah she is missing something in her life and so do Delilah. Together they find something unique in each other and that is great to read about.

The whole thing with the fact that Sabrina is in the middle of her transition and the book plays out before her planned bottom surgery is all dealt with so much care and love. Sabrina is a woman no matter what and that is great to read about, everyone (except for Delilah’s dad) treats her like any other woman.

To Please Her is a heartwarming and exciting story about Sabrina, a trans woman, exploring her fantasies for the first time through BDSM. What starts as saying yes to be Delilah’s demo bunny for her rope class quickly turns into a desire for more. Delilah, however, isn’t particularly interested in giving more than just one night… or is she?

While Sabrina explores her desires and yearns to be owned by someone, Delilah struggles to let Sabrina–or anyone for that matter–into her heart despite how she obviously feels towards Sabrina.

This is a tale of sexual exploration, personal growth, overcoming trauma, standing up for oneself, and learning to love oneself and others. One of the aspects I truly appreciated was the important, yet underrepresented point of view of a trans woman main character who hasn’t undergone bottom surgery. I adored the way Delilah treated Sabrina.

First book I’ve read with a trans character and two females but overall found this an emotional and intriguing read. I really felt each of the characters complexities.

I went into To Please Her, relatively blind. This was a very quick read that promotes body positivity, lust and love at first sight and the dualities of family obligation and “unconventional love. That being said, I would have to rate this book at 3.5/5 stars. I think that the characters were well developed for a short novel. There was a bit of lag in the middle and inner monologue from Sabrina, that I found confusing and somewhat redundant. There was a good amount of spice, considering this was in the erotica genre and there were a lot of descriptions of sexual activity that surrounded BDSM.
The book follows Sabrina, a trans woman, who is trying to navigate her new world as a woman, seeking gender reassignment surgery. There are a lot of mentions of her ex-fiance and how their relationship ended because she chose to live her life in her truth. Stumbling, literally with coffee, upon a woman who seeks to challenge Sabrina’s norms and assist in regaining her self-confidence, Delilah, is introduced as Sabrina’s love-interest. As much as this is a love-story, this is almost a coming of age book that explores the themes of trans-identity, queer love and BDSM. Without too many spoilers, the book makes the reader ask the question, can love from two unlikely partners, conquer all?

This is a book🤭 the cover threw me of a little but i was genuinely so surprised on how much I liked this. It’s a trans woman x woman romance, woth lots of bdsm. This book showed the struggles and gate people have for trans people and I found this so sad. But this book was so good and I feel like I learned about the lgbtq community in more depth
The ONLY bad thing was her being a pet (dog) and barking in the spicy scenes, I found myself cringing.

Thankyou so much netgalley and Bold Strokes books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!!