She Was Made for Me

by Jen Morris

Sparks fly as a reclusive carpenter and a workaholic project manager fight their forbidden attraction in this steamy romance about finding that all-important work/life balance. Violet I never meant to lie to my parents about my job—I only wanted to make them proud. So when Dad asks me to return to New York to manage the renovation of a townhouse he owns, I can’t say no, even though I’m in way over my head. But the real challenge comes in the form of Kyle, the gruff and ruggedly-handsome foreman, eighteen years my senior and my father's best friend. We clash on everything, except for the chemistry that sizzles between us—chemistry he stubbornly denies. Kyle Returning to New York wasn't in my plans, until my oldest friend entrusted me with leading a restoration project and keeping an eye on his headstrong daughter. Keeping an eye on her is easy; resisting her not so much. She's beautiful, hard-working, and infuriating as hell. The more she challenges me, the more I want to throw her across my knee and teach her a lesson. No matter how much I fight it, Violet’s determined we should be together. And she’s right. She might be my best friend’s daughter, but she was made for me. Here’s what you can expect from She Was Made for
♥ age gap, forbidden romance (father’s best friend/best friend’s daughter)
♥ dominant, dirty-talking hero with a soft heart
♥ strong, feisty heroine
♥ praise kink
♥ workplace setting (project manager and foreman)
♥ gorgeous Brooklyn townhouse restoration
♥ anxiety rep Please this book is a steamy, open-door romance, told in dual first person point of view. It contains cursing and on-page sex, including dirty talk and very light BDSM (spanking). Additionally, it contains an age gap of eighteen years, with an older man/younger woman dynamic (the heroine is 25, the hero 43). It is intended for readers 18 years and older.

Genres: Romance, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance, Contemporary, Workplace, Forbidden Romance, Contemporary Romance

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Jen Morris writes steamy escapist romance with imperfect heroines and tall, bearded heroes. She believes that almost anything can be fixed with a good laugh, a good book, or a plane ticket to New York.

Her books follow people with big dreams as they navigate life and love in the city. Her characters don’t just find love—they find themselves, too.

Jen lives with her partner and son, in a tiny house on wheels in New Zealand. She spends her days writing, dreaming about New York, and finding space for her ever-growing book collection.

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 forbidden, juicy stars

❛ She’s the reason life feels good, and that’s how I know. How I know she was made for me. ❜

the story commenced when Violet´s steady life, that was mainly and only orbiting around her job, shattered after being dropped from her assistant funnction in Silicon Valley. the real troubles arise when her father assigned her as a Project Manager for the renovation site of one of his properties —a Brooklyn historical building. he assumed she had some experience because she omitted to correct her parents when they thought she lead a Project Manager position at her previous job. her problems escalated when she discovered that the hot-stranger she met at a coffee shop and who was halfway going to ask her out, before her father’s impromptu interruption, was in fact his best friend Kyle, the lead contractor of her freshly attributed project and eighteen years older than her.

"I want nothing more than to kiss her pain away, but I know I can’t do that anymore. Instead, I let her cry as much as she needs, knowing I won’t get to hold her again."

*Everything means nothing if i can’t have you* lyric was written for Violet and Kyle.

to put it simply, the book is a tumultuous, acutely emotional read. to start with, I would like to underline how much I enjoyed being absorbed by the author's fast paced and vibrant plume. parallel to the protagonists, I experienced rage, tears, laughter even cringing, and pain.

"The way Violet and I fit together… it’s like she was made for me. Not only physically, but in every way possible. My heart knew it even before my body felt it, and now I’ve experienced it in the most carnal, primal way. "

Kyle, the male main character was ripped between his inner thoughts, that drove him to be a complete moron towards the female lead and push her away, and in the other hand, what he intimately craved, desired. throughout the storytelling, he kept oscillating between pragmatic reflections to not tarnish the trust and tight friendship he shared with Violet’s father and an irrational, forbidden and vital pull to his best friend’s daughter. at some point, fighting the inevitable felt a bit redondant every time he reminded himself and Violet that the two of them can’t and won’t ever be a thing. but in counterbalance it built a delicious push and pull dynamic and an agonizing sexual tension between the protagonists because the moment they gave in to their reciprocal attraction it was literally fireworks.

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life"

—Dolly Parton (epigraph)

Violet was a hardworking woman and this personality trait emphasized so brilliantly her outstanding and remarkable character. despite not having any expertise in historical renovations, she persevered in the role and modeled herself for it without even considering abandoning the project. with that plot line, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about New York's architectural history and vestiges alongside with her. the story was filled with numerous anecdotes and a significant amount of architectural knowledge. with drawing attention to her workaholic tendencies, the storyline explored some touchy topics, such as anxiety and how it ruined Kyle's past career. even though he believed he didn't want Violet in his life or daily basis, he still cared to her and her health, which I absolutely loved to witness because it was all so beautifully drawn with disinterested acts and little attentions.

~•~•

many thanks to the author for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review!!

~•~•~
look at me reading an arc the day i received it because it’s a dad’s best friend trope 😋😋

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Jen Morris could make an 18 year age gap HOT AF 🥵 and not at all cringey!!

What I loved about this book (and there was soooo much to love!!)

✨The Brooklyn Heights (NYC) setting and all the history and charm of that neighborhood!!
✨The forbidden romance/unbelievably steamy chemistry between the MCs
The “good girl” and “hot brunch daddy” vibes
✨The anxiety rep
✨The reno, forced proximity, workplace romance

I could go on and on but if you enjoy authors like Tessa Bailey and just want a steamy fun escapist read, you definitely want to grab this latest from Jen Morris!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an early copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars⭐️
Ooh this was pretty good. I liked the build-up of the story and their chemistry ❤️‍🔥. Because this is a best friend's daughter romance, I liked how much of a moral dilemma Kyle was in and how he was controlling himself to not be with Violet (even tho he really wanted to) just so he doesn't jeopardize his friendship with her dad. Violet was also a great character, strong and she stood her ground.
I really liked the spicy scenes, even tho there were not too many of them.

I found this book on goodreads and honestly I don't know why it's not more popular on the booktok when it's definitely better than many of the age gap romances that are popular there.🤭


As I gaze at the beautiful woman beside me, I realize that’s why we work so well together: we balance each other in all the right ways. Without Violet, I’m a recluse who hides from anything that might push me too hard, and without me, she’s a workaholic who never lets herself rest. Together, there’s harmony. ❤️


✨️best friend's daughter/dad's best friend
✨️age gap 18y (he is 43, she is 25)
✨️forbidden love
✨️dual pov, written in first person
✨️spicy: 🌶🌶🌶
✨️the first book in the series, can be read as a standalone

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, I guess. The MCs took a long time to act on their feelings, and when they finally found the courage to do so, it felt like an eternity before they confessed (or attempted) to Violet's dad. In the end, they chose not to go through with it because she's a people pleaser; she just couldn't stand the idea of disappointing her dad. 🤷‍♀️
 
I’ve read my fair share of father’s best friend stories, but for some reason, this one didn’t hit the mark for me. I feel like the constant back and forth really dragged things out, and I wasn't a fan of that whole "will they, won't they" situation that lasted for over half the book. It started to get a little annoying and repetitive after a while. 🫣
 
Then a separation was introduced into the story. They rarely had time for each other and had only been together for a short time. Instead of being honest with her parents and his best friend, they decided to end their relationship and spent the next six weeks being miserable. 😮‍💨
 
The chemistry between the MCs was clearly evident, so it wasn't all that bad. I just wish there had been more time for romance between them and that they had chosen a different way to handle her parents in the last part of the story. 🤷‍♀️
 
Overall, it was still a decent read. I might give this author's other works a go.


Book info:
- Father's best friend
- Age gap (h25/H43)
- Workplace romance
- Secret relationship
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Anxiety and panic attack rep
- Insta-love
- Push and pull
- Forced proximity
- Slowburn
- No cheating, OW
- OMD (she went on a date, but she left early)
- Separation (six weeks)
- No V
- HFN (in a relationship)
- Bonus epilogue (need to sign-up to author's newsletter > 1 yr later, engaged 🫠)

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello Jane Morris,
I'm here for your low angst, slow burning, light hearted, wholesome romance that is somehow equally tension-ridden, insta lust, emotionally loaded and forbidden.
What I mean to say is I'm here for your perfectly balanced romance.

Especially the type where a 43 year old fully bearded " stern brunch daddy™ " is falling in love with his best friend's 25 year old daughter— without ever making it cringe.
Most definitely the kind riding the edges of taboo and lightly peppered with kink and dirty talk.

Not to mention the HOUSE RENO PORN!!!

The pace of this story was fast and made for the perfect night time read.
If Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Praise Kink, Forbidden are your thing and you're in the mood for something light and sweet, grab this one.

This is set to be a series so I'm looking forward to the next one, in the mean time I'll be giving the author's backlist a try. (They're all enrolled in #KU)

[shanelle maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, adding another fictional older man to my list of hot daddy’s 🥵

But seriously, this book just really delivered that forbidden age gap juiciness that I crave. Kyle was hotter than the sun with his mouth and his “good girl” praise 🤤 I was definitely drooling. He honestly reminded me of Pike Lawson from PDougs Birthday Girl, and that is so hard for me to find. He just had this whole blue collar rugged sexiness that is unmatched. I loved Violet too. She has definitely been one of my favorite fmcs to read about. She was strong, and had a backbone. She knew what she wanted and she went for it.

Anyway, I loved this book with my whole soul and I’m sad it’s over. But I’m so happy I stumbled on it. A hidden gem for sure!! 💕

[keedy ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a little too vanilla for me, kyle's character is a little too sweet for a guy his age. i like a mmc where he's a little gritty and rough around the edges, but kyle only looks rugged on the outside. i do find their different backgrounds interesting though, she's a privileged city girl and he's a blue-collared, small town guy. i'm also a hard sucker for dad's best friend trope so this really ticks off the "perfect tropes" boxes for me, however, the plot felt kinda flat. i feel like she spent more time chasing him bc he kept denying his feelings. i would've liked it more if he denied his feelings while doing intense things like scaring away the guy who asked her on a date instead of acting passive or followed her to her date.

regardless, this was still a comfort read and the tropes served me right. the spice level is 2, honestly i felt kinda bored reading the smut scenes cause it's really so vanilla. i love that kyle is described as this rugged looking guy but he doesnt act the part. maybe bc i'm too used to reading morally gray men so a "normal" guy bores me. i still enjoyed it but it's forgettable imo.

3.5 stars ⭐

btw check out the playlist i made for this book! ♡
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6xp...

[aralia · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's nice going back to my root (reading age gap romance)

things that i like:
- both the MCs were great. i enjoy their characterization
- the romance and the chemistry was sizzling
- how they balanced each other out
- they have good communication (despite kyle being kind of a dick bcs he doesn't want to act on his feelings for violet)
- the house renovation (or whatever it is called) stuff is surprisingly interesting. i don't know if it's accurate or not (and i do not care) but the whole time i was rooting for them to finish the house and was so damn proud when they did

things that i don't like:
- not enough spanking :( there was cw for that in the beginning of the book so i thought there'd be some of that but alas 😞😞
- i could see the [redacted] from miles away but stupidly thought we'd evade that but unfortunately, it happens. the resolution was okay but i just have this visceral hatred for [redacted] and i kind of feel the amount of time they spent apart is a bit too long for my taste but whatever
- also, the timeline moved so fast when they finally got together it gave me whiplash so what's up with that🤨

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

[Megan | Megan.Reads.Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen takes "stern brunch daddy" and re-names it "Kyle" - 4.5 stars!

Kyle and Violet are a match made in spicy heaven. Through all the complications in their relationship, nearly from the moment they meet (but their meet cute is ADORABLE), Kyle can't seem to NOT look out for Violet, and Violet can't seem to NOT push all of Kyle's buttons in hopes of breaking down his walls or breaking his restraint. And when he finally snaps, all of that built up tension PAYS OFF. While their physical chemistry is amazing, I also love how hard Kyle falls. Once he starts to view Violet as MINE and HOME, the story elevates to a whole new level of precious. And, at the same time, I love so much the maturity of an older man with emotional awareness... like, he's a stern brunch daddy, but he's also so hot in his emotional maturity that I don't even care how hot he is physically, or maybe it makes him even more attractive physically because he's got the inside heart stuff figured out.... while at the same time being jealous when Violet talks about another man, praising her when she's a good girl, rescuing her from dangerous ladders, bringing her coffee, making sure she eats, teaching her work/life balance, getting her to escape the city for the weekend... need I go on? AND he does all of this without trying to dampen Violet's personality quirks and all of the things that make her unique (like when she works so hard on a project she forgets to eat).

Read this if you enjoy:
- Age gap
- Dad's best friend
- Workplace romance
- Anxiety/mental health rep

Thanks so much to Jen for an early copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts :)

[Magaly | Catchy Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet, age 25, falls for her dad’s hot younger friend, who’s 43. I don’t read a lot of age gap — not that I avoid it intentionally, but it’s not something I actively seek either. However, the way in which these characters navigated their feelings for each other felt pretty realistic. I kept trying to put myself in Violet’s shoes and understood why she was torn: hot older man? Yes, please. Having to tell my dad I wanted to date his friend? Yikes on bikes.

The spice picks up about halfway through the book. The scenes themselves were steamy but I was pulled out of them anytime there was a reference to Violet’s dad in proximity to them. 🫣 I can only imagine how hard that was for Violet and Kyle. 😂

I also struggled with Violet’s inability to be honest with her dad — not just about her relationship. I think this is just a personal issue because I have a hard time lying/keeping secrets and can’t imagine doing so for years like she did. Her parents seemed like super understanding people so I wasn’t sure why she avoided them so much.

One of my favorite things in this story, specifically, was that the characters had personal development outside of simply “finding love”. Instead we saw that they grew as individuals as well.

Overall, would recommend if you like:

👩‍❤️‍👨 Age Gap
🔥 Steamy scenes against brick walls
🛠️ Forced Proximity
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🧠 Anxiety rep

Rating: 3.5/5

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jen for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first book by Jen, but it won't be my last! NicoleS.Reads has read pretty much everything Jen has written and when she advertised this book I knew instantly this was where I was going to start. It has basically all of my favorite tropes: age gap, forbidden romance, a dominant DIRTY TALKING WHEW hero, praise kink, anxiety rep ('The amount of times I felt like screaming IT'S ME was legit a lot') and the open door spicy spicy steaaaaam of this book. Whew. So good.

Violet is also strong and feisty and she doesn't take anything lying down, which I SO appreciate. I'm tired of all these shy heroines with no backbone. Give me a strong FMC any day of the week and I'll give you FANTASTIC reviews.

This was pretty low-angst for me. I like my forbidden romances to have high angst, so I did take a little bit of a star off for that, but overall I definitely recommend this book. I cant wait to see what's coming next for the Forbidden on Fruit Street series!

[Kerryrosalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so predictable but I actually enjoyed it more than I thought 😂 🫣 3 ⭐️ and 3 🌶️

[Miranda Hohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how I keep getting into this age-gap, dad’s best friend books, but this one was definitely the most realistic and least cringey of the ones I’ve read.

[Colorado · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Was Made for Me is a slow burn, age gap, forbidden romance.

Violet has made her job her life. When she is unexpectedly laid off, she really doesn't know who she is. Kyle has escaped a high pressure career in NYC for a life restoring cabins in rural Maine. He's lonely and misses working on something he cares about but he worries about how to achieve a balance.

Vi's father and Kyle's best friend swoops in with a proposal to work together to restore an old brownstone in Brooklyn Heights. Vi will be the Project Manager and Kyle will serve as the Construction Foreman. As both work together, they each gain confidence in their abilities to tackle a major project and to work with a team. Both develop a passion for restoring the historical character of the building, while modernizing to make it workable in today's world.

They also develop romantic passion as they balance each other. Kyle helps Violet learn how to make time for rest and play. Violet draws Kyle out from his tendency to hide from anything that might push him too hard. Of course, there's a lot of chemistry. With Kyle 18 years older than Vi and a close friend of her father, each is worried and guilty that their relationship crosses lines. There's angst about the forbidden nature of their tie.

As Morris points out in her author's bio, she writes stories about people who don't just find love but also find themselves. Vi and Kyle each struggle with anxiety and the books talks sensitively and honestly about panic attacks and tactics for overcoming stress.

While I grew up in NYC, I was not very familiar with Brooklyn Heights. This book is a love letter to that very charming and historic neighborhood of the city.

4.5 stars, rounded up - it's definitely a slow burn and the pacing can be slow.

Special thanks to the author for sharing an advance copy of this book. This is an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle and Violet are made for each other but will her father agree? Violets father, Rich is Kyle's best friend and Kyle just happens to be almost twenty years older than her. They fight their attraction slot in the beginning as they are working side by side to restore an old historical house. Kyle is adamant that they can't start anything because of Rich and what he would think but the two are having trouble fighting their urges.
The spice, banter, Brooklyn Heights background and supporting characters all made this book incredible to me. I've been a huge fan of Jen Morris books since she started writing. Her writing style just gets me. She knows what I want to read, and she writes it. I mean probably not on purpose but it works out, right? 😝😝

[carolyn.reads.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Breakdown

Age Gap - 18 Years
Dad's Best Friend
Forbidden Romance
Workplace
Forced Proximity
HGTV Vibes
“Good Girl” Spice
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate Details


Age gap fans, you NEED this one on your immediate TBR!

She Was Made For Me features a dad's best friend romance with an 18 year age gap (FMC is 25, MMC is 43). I know large gaps aren't for everyone, but I firmly believe when done well they can be EXCEPTIONAL. Jen absolutely NAILED this & I firmly believe it's because of the strong characters she crafted surrounded by a solid plot. She wrote in a way that makes you believe these two are inevitable. They just WORK together.

Let me tell you, I fell HARD for Violet & Kyle.

For me to REALLY buy into a larger gap like this, I look a lot to my FMCs, & Violet was everything I could have hoped for. She's strong willed & detrmined with an enviable work ethic, yet full of relatable vulnerabilities where I couldn't help but relate to her.

There was this gradual, natural progression to the relationship that made me buy into the large gap more. From the initial attraction to the inevitable shock & hesitation, then the act of slowly breaking down each other’s walls through genuine connection. By the time the steam hit, I was so far gone for them, I was desperate for it!

Top this bad boy off with some great secondary characters, home reno / HGTV vibes & a Brooklyn setting I was done for. I binged this book in a day; I couldn’t put it down.

She Was Made For Me is book one in Jen’s Forbidden on Fruit Street series which promises even more taboo vibes to come. Thank you so much @jenmorrisauthor for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[susana ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t forgotten how good Jen’s writing is. I missed her books so much, and this series full of forbidden tropes has me so excited. This book was a great beginning for it. Father’s best friend is one of the best taboo tropes for me. Kyle and Violet have an insane chemistry! I was dying for them to finally give in, and it was so fun to see Kyle trying to resist Violet. He stood no chance! I also appreciate that he helped VIolet see that work can’t be the only reason why we live, and that being a workaholic is not good for your health. Once they finally got together, I lost my mind with their attraction and fire. This is a steamy one ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥. I could see that Violet’s father’s reaction wasn’t gonna be good, but it doesn’t bother as it does in brother’s best friend since the circumstances are quite different. I love how everything goes in the end!

I’m so excited to read more in this series. If I’m correct, the next book will be ex’s father, and I LOVE that one. I can’t wait to know what else is coming for this series!

ARC provided by Jen Morris. Opinions are my own!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen’s done it again!

While age gaps are always a little strange to me, if Jen’s writing it, I’m going to be reading it. I absolutely love her writing and cruised through this!

The chemistry and attraction between Violet and Kyle was SO good. It was the perfect amount of steamy and sweet. I loved that while Kyle had some years on Violet, they were always equals, and there was no power struggle between them. The renovations were so fun to read about too, it felt very realistic. I can’t get over how much I loved this!

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age gaps don't always strike everyone's fancy. But if you're looking for a non-icky one to try out, look no further!

📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: She Was made for Me by Jen Morris, the first book in the Forbidden Fruit Street character series.

📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Age gap, workplace romance, opposites attract, mental health rep HGTV vibes.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Violet is a workaholic who is let go by her company and returning home to New York. In desperate need for a job, she takes a role project managing the renovation of her family's Brooklyn walk-up, and works alongside her father's best friend Kyle - who she can't help but find attractive. But they're both off limits to each other, regardless of how close they end up being.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I'm serious when I say that this is an age gap you can read and feel good about. Violet is 25, out of college and is a female main character with some depth to her - hopes, dreams, a career, actual thoughts. And Kyle is 18 years older, but he doesn't treat her like he's her senior. Their journey to fall in love is full of romance, no forbidden romance cliches at all.

I liked this book a lot. It was fun to read them renovating a Brooklyn home, their shared love of history. The underlying story with Violet's obsession with work also hit home for me (and Kyle being a recovering workaholic was a cool transition.

I took half a point off here because (small spoiler) when they finally get their happy ending, Violet's dad GIVES THEM the walk-up. I live in Jersey, and a house like that goes for $2 million EASILY. The other half point was because I would love a little more unhinged passion. The story was romantic, don't get me wrong, but I needed a bit more connection between the two characters. 

Other than that, the spice was great, and the tension Morris created in her writing was wonderful. I can't wait to see what the rest of this character series brings.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

🆓️ on KU 

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 

[Tamara · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 🌟

There was pretty much nothing I liked about this and it’s my own fault for not dnf’ing.

* Tstl fmc who accepts scraps from the mmc despite being characterised as strong and feisty
* Fmc who chases after the mmc despite him being an ass to her, comes across as super desperate
* Mmc rejects the fmc constantly!! And she keeps coming back for more… I don’t mind some push-pull but this was just excessive to the detriment of the romantic development
* Assh*le mmc who treats the fmc like shit because he can’t handle his attraction and feelings for her
* Large age gap done wrong - the mmc is the fmc’s dads best friend and he and her Dad constantly act as if she’s still a child (she’s legit 25)
* Third act break up with over a month long separation for a stupid reason
* Fmc that’s desperate for her fathers approval (daddy issues)
* Her dad calls her his “little girl” (she’s 25!!!!!)

Safety:
- no virgins, no recent history for h other than it’s been a few months or years
- H seemed to have been celibate since his last long-term gf broke up with him 4 years ago, there are quite a few mentions of this ow which I didn’t love but he doesn’t seem to have any lingering feelings
- No ow or om* drama
- H pushes the h away multiple times, including after their first kiss. He pushes the h to go on date with om, so she does. She doesn’t like the om and feels bad on the date for using him so it ends early.

[Em ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

September 2024 ↴
Wow! I can't even express how much I love this book and its main characters. The spice was 5/5 🌶! Kyle is my dream man! He is sweet and caring, yet protective and possessive! I'm literally speechless, cause I love everything about this book. It's definitely a new favorite! Jen Morris did a fantastic job, the writing is perfect imo!

March 2025 ↴
I normally doesn't reread this quickly but I wanted to listen to the audiobook. This book is truly my favorite book! ♡ I love Kyle and Violet so much!

—
Quotes:

"The thought of her spending another evening — or, fuck, the night — with that greasy little rat makes my skin crawl." 😂

"God, I'd give anything to step forward and pull her close, to bury my face in her neck and stroke her hair and tell her I'd do pretty much anything for her at this point."

"But... I couldn't help myself. I've been fighting this so hard, when all I want is to have Violet in my arms, in my bed. I want to make her laugh, hold her close, make her feel good. Hell, I want a future with her. "

"God, I love her like this. All bratty and smart-mouthed and needing nothing more than for me to teach her a lesson."

"Look at me, Violet. I want to see your pretty face when you come."

"Are you going to be a good girl and come for me, sweetheart?"

[Jayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: My opinion still stands from the last time I read. Amazing book! Super excited for book 2 which is out in a few days 😍

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This was SO good and I was not expecting it. Age gap, forbidden dads best friend romance. They are remodeling a historical house. The sexual tension is amazing and the spice is perfection. I only wish that there was just a TINY bit more spice. This is not something I usually wish for because I am not a fan of books that have more than 3-4ish sex scenes, it gets to be repetitive. The balance was really perfect in this book. There were a few scenes. But the spice was so, so good that I wanted/needed more 😭.
Loved that there was a spanking scene! I feel like it's hard to find spanking in a non-bdsm book. No epilogue babies(yay! although I will admit I did not read the authors bonus epilogue that's mentioned in the book).
This was a super fun book. I loved reading about the house and the historical details. Will definitely be keeping an eye on this author for more forbidden romance books 😇

[Sydney | sydneys.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.75) When Jen approached me about reviewing the first book in her new forbidden romance series I was hesitant. I don't love super taboo romances, and large age gaps can be super icky. However, I have enjoyed Jen's other works, and I was optimistic that she could pull this story off.

And she sort of did? The age gap wasn't icky, and I did honestly believe this couple had chemistry. I love a good workplace romance, and it's set in historic Brooklyn, a setting the author did justice. But everything else outside the romance did not work for me.

T/CW: anxiety and panic attacks, poor relationship with food, 18 year age gap

Well, the romance was kinkier than I like, so I did skim most of the scenes. But I wouldn't dock stars for that personal preference. Kyle was always respectful, and I didn't think Violet was overpowered in their dynamic whatsoever. She was clearly an equal participant.

What bothered me was her dad's response. Kyle is her father's old law firm partner and best friend. His reactions, both negative and positive, really rubbed me the wrong way and gave me the ick I was expecting from Kyle and Violet. I won't go into specifics to avoid spoilers, but an age gap or forbidden romance has a lot of contexts where it can feel wrong, and this was one area the author overlooked.

The anxiety rep included is personal for the author, so I'm going to be very careful when I say that it felt poorly executed. Both characters struggle with workaholism, Violet in the story and Kyle prior to the novel's events. Anxiety manifests in both characters due to those unhealthy habits. However, it felt like it was thrown in to check a box or be a buzzword (like a list of tropes for this book, where it includes "good girl" and "anxiety rep"). The portrayal was surface level and nothing was really done to help solve the problem other than taking more rest days. It didn't feel as authentic as I'd expected from Jen Morris.

One more complaint: the character development. There is not a large cast of characters, yet the only ones who develop at all are the leads. And it's really just Violet. Would it have been too much to ask for the side characters to be given proper character arcs when there's only like three of them total?

Also, the conflict was resolved so easily, it was like watching a PG movie. A lot of buildup for a corny, 2-second apology, and suddenly everything is merry and grand.

To round this out, I will say the workplace romance and slower burn was well-written. We really get a sense of the characters' jobs without being bogged down with boring information, and the author clearly researched historic brownstones and their restoration. Kyle and Violet both had obvious passion for the project too. I also really enjoyed their meet cute, something Jen Morris does well.

I am so sad this one didn't work for me, but I am also not entirely surprised. This book won't be for everyone, something Jen knew when she wrote it and when she sent arcs out to readers. Three cheers for a not icky large age gap though!

Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashnight89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
4.5/5 ⭐️

Wow this was such a fun read! I have loved Jen Morris books for years now, and have read all of her “Love in the City” series. To be honest “She Was Made For Me” has definitely become one of my favorites of hers now, which is a tough choice to make because I love and recommend “You Know It’s Love” to everyone.

Back to the review, I had such a fun time with this book. Morris’s writing is always so good. As bad as it sounds, a lot of spicy romance books can lack in the story and writing, but this book had the perfect amount of steam and story. The dual povs was a lot of fun and all the characters, including side characters who you didn’t think would be very important, felt very real and fleshed out. The spice was great and the character development felt very realistic. Kyle is so dreamy, and you really felt for him as he struggles between his love for his best friend and his love for Violet. I loved Violets strong personality, I especially loved how she was so capable and tough in her work, yet self aware enough to realize she enjoyed a partner she could rely and depend on when it counted. Our main characters relationships with their friends and family were so beautiful, and even during the tough moments, everything felt so very authentic.

Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a sweet, contemporary romance with the perfect amount of spice! Thank you to Jen Morris for gifting me an arc of her book in exchange for an honest review

[RateTheRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how pretty you look when you come.”

I mean, holy crap, this book was H-O-T! If you've read this author before, SHE WAS MADE FOR ME is ushering in a new and much steamier writing era for her. This book still has the NYC setting, the badass female lead, and the enlightened hero that Jen Morris writes, but with insane dirty talk, a praise kink, and bedroom spanking added.

And I love a romance with Mental Health and positive Therapy rep and SHE WAS MADE FOR ME had both. This book didn't have the humor that the last series had, but if you are looking for a steamier and kinkier Forbidden Romance read you'll love this one.

Now listen, I really struggle with age gap romance where the gap is significant. This is my own issue because it reads creepy to me. But SHE WAS MADE FOR ME absolutely changed my mind. Kyle never once seems creepy or predatory. In fact, I adored him! He is fighting this attraction with everything he has because he IS a morally good person. He's such a great counterpoint to Violet as he quietly helps her focus less on her career and take better care of herself, even during the points in the story in which these two are fighting.

And Violet is a badass that is likeable, fiery, and hard-working and I adored her! These two are a perfect pair, age gap be damned.

I took off a star from my rating because I felt like I was missing a bit of connection between these two in the first half of the book. Yes, they have some chemistry-laden interactions, but I wanted a few more scenes of them forging an emotional connection before they added a physical connection.

SHE WAS MADE FOR ME is a book you need to read if you like age gap, forbidden, love stories with a steamy edge and plenty of "good girl" bedroom talk. I can't wait for the next books in this series!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated NC-17 / 5+ sex scenes, harsh language. *MIGHT* include props/bondage.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: anxiety attacks
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

👇🏻𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE

[Sabrina (Romance.and.Raindrops) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebook Read (Kindle)

Title: She Was Made For Me
Series: Forbidden On Fruit Street (Book 1)
Author: Jen Morris
Tropes: -Age gap 
-Forbidden romance (father's best friend/ best friend's daughter) 
-Workplace setting (project manager and foreman) 
-Anxiety/Mental health Rep

💐Thoughts💐

First things first: Put this book on your TBR! 
It is a 5🌟 read if you enjoy any of the tropes listed above.

I saw another bookstagramer reading this and was immediately intrigued. I usually prefer my couple covers to have real people but this one just felt so sexy! I love that he is shirtless, and the way he is holding her hair and hip so firmly! Mmm, mm, mm!! 🫠🫠

The story follows Violet and Kyle. Violet is a workaholic who loses her job unexpectedly so she goes home to Brooklyn, NY. 

Her father ends up hiring her to project manage a brownstone restoration. So, first day she stops at the local coffee shop and meets a handsome older man, who she has an instant connection with.  

Just as he is about to ask her out, her father walks up and introduces that stranger as, not only his best friend and former colleague, but also the foreman on the brownstone project. 

The age gap is written perfectly! You understand why these 2 people are attracted to each other's personalities. 
The tension they have while trying to fight this had me on the edge of my seat (and because this wasn't an audiobook I couldn't speed it up to get to it faster! 😆)

I really appreciate when authors include things like anxiety rep because most people now have dealt with that feeling in some form or another. The author writes it so realistically in this story.

Overall, I could not put this ebook down (and for someone with a short attention span that is saying something!) Jen Morris's writing style is so easy to read and the story flowed so well. Plus, I truly felt like I was IN Brooklyn, NY.

Also, the spice did not disappoint! 🥵🥵
This is now at the top of my wishlist to become an audiobook! 

[miss_may · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

The first half didn’t really catch me, tbh, but what I really liked was the second half and especially around the whole topic of them entering a „secret“ relationship. There were so many moments where I thought I’d have to endure some kind of misunderstanding/miscommunication third act breakup but I was positively surprised by how effectively Violet and Kyle were communicating their feelings to each other. Love that!

The beginning half, however, was a bit slow and it took me a long time to really think there was any chemistry between them. The renovation content was what made me read on and I am glad I did! 😂

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ hehehe give me anything forbidden and I will EAT. IT. UPPPP. This was so good!!!

My first time reading Dad’s best friend/best friend’s daughter and ohh it was sexy. I liked their dynamic and progression of their relationship. The fact that Violet knew Kyle was playing games and did the chasing herself was a nice change. Only complaint, there wasn’t nearly enough spanking :(

I loved the home renovation (or whatever it was) part of the story. That was actually really interesting!

First time reading from this author and I’m soooo excited to continue this forbidden series