I really enjoyed getting to read this novella, it had that concept that I wanted from this type of book and was hooked from the first page. The characters were everything that I hoped for and enjoyed the sapphic element of this and how it worked overall in this universe. Alicia Vane has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

A spicy Sapphic mindf*ck that will have you switching university majors.

Our main character, Natalie, is invited to check out a top secret project - immersive reality software which allows the user to live out any fantasy. Natalie works with the project's lead programmer, Ellen, to create increasingly wild and spicy scenario's, while still feeling like Ellen is keeping something from her.

This debut novella is super creative, well written and left me needing to know what would happen next. Alicia is British and I love that she included British slang like, 'jammy git', which brings an authenticity to the characters dialogue.

Our two FMCs are both closed off for different reasons. It's a joy to watch them slowly reach out to each other as the story progresses.

What to expect
📺 Sapphic women in STEM
📺 Academia romance
📺 Hot AF consent
📺 Toys as teammates
📺 Orgasm denial
📺 Immersive VR, but make it spicy
📺 Bi-awakening
📺 A man calling a woman hysterical 👀😈
📺 Good for her (directly related to above)

This book is best read while coding your girlfriends wildest fantasies into VR.

This was an unexpected addiction of a novella. It was extremely difficult to put down, and even more difficult to come to terms with its small page count. I would happily read hundreds of more pages with this universe and these characters. Alicia writes their women to be complex, multifaceted, and mature. As a graduate of psychology, I had a deep appreciation for the thorough and accurate descriptions of psychology and how it can contribute to society beyond the scope of mental health. The conversations regarding the exploration of both queer identities and sex positivity were refreshingly normalized and relatable. All in all, this was a great novella that I would happily hear from again.

This beautiful, psychological novel explores themes of connection and personhood in the context of a controversial experiment and a beautiful queer relationship. This is both a romance novel and a philosophical interrogation of our relationships with machines and with each other. I really enjoyed all the character voices but especially the ideas they represented. Overall a beautiful, introspective novel.

Thank you to the Alicia Vane, Victory Editing Publishing and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novella was such a fun surprise — I read it in a few sittings and honestly didn’t want it to end!

The chemistry between Natalie and Ellen is magnetic. Every little glance, smile, and dimple from Ellen had me grinning right along with Natalie. The push-and-pull between them feels flirty and addictive, with the perfect amount of tension building until you’re practically shouting “kiss already!” at the page.

For such a short book, the emotional payoff was impressive. The slow burn really delivers, and when things do heat up — let’s just say 🔥🌶️🍆 — it’s worth the wait. A spicy sapphic novella that’s equal parts clever and swoony. I highly recommend giving this a read and I can’t wait for the sequel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5