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Freja Born
When reserved and withdrawn Freja Born decides to vacation in Monterey to escape the Los Angeles summer heat, she didn’t expect to fall in love, let alone with someone sixteen years her junior. The two lovers find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, but feel compelled to keep their romance a secret due to the stigma surrounding their age gap and sexual orientation. No one is less pleased than Frederik’s obsessed friend, Tricia, who is determined to keep them apart.
This is a story about a love that transcends age and the struggles two kindred spirits face when society dictates what should and shouldn’t be. Freja is foremost a romance novel but contains flashes of suspense, for where there is love there is jealousy, and where there is jealousy there shall be crime. It will keep you turning the pages through every unpredictable twist and turn.
This is a story about a love that transcends age and the struggles two kindred spirits face when society dictates what should and shouldn’t be. Freja is foremost a romance novel but contains flashes of suspense, for where there is love there is jealousy, and where there is jealousy there shall be crime. It will keep you turning the pages through every unpredictable twist and turn.
230 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 16, 2024
After completing her newest manuscript, forty-year-old Freja Born longs for rest (and a break from the LA heat) and heads to her idyllic Monterey vacation home. The introverted writer relishes dipping her toes into the ocean and long strolls with her dog, but fate has something else in store for her. When she runs into her neighboring friends, she gets reacquainted with their son, Frederik, who has transformed into a handsome young man in the two years since she’d last seen him.
Twenty-four-year-old Frederik feels a connection as soon as his eyes meet Freja’s, and he quickly becomes beguiled by her friendly manner and unconventional beauty. Freja, too, feels the sparks but tries to push these feelings aside because of their fourteen-year age gap. But she cannot quell those feelings of desire, and the pair begin a passionate relationship.
Still, not everyone is happy about their romance. One obsessive individual will do whatever it takes to keep Freja and Frederik apart.
“Freja Born” by Jessi A. Charles is an emotionally driven novel that will make readers feel like they are on a rollercoaster. Luring in readers, the author combines soul-stirring romance, heartbreaking grief, and a twisted obsession. It is written from the third-person perspective, alternating in the narrative, and mostly follows Freja Born, a woman who is very conflicted about the prospect of loving a younger man. Beyond the age difference, Freja also struggles with feelings of unease, particularly concerning her safety. The book explores various themes like love, jealousy, and revenge.
As a woman of Freja’s age, I appreciated how the author addresses the double standard regarding age gaps in romantic partners. Being fourteen years Frederik’s senior, Freja grapples with feelings of shame and perceived judgment. While it is becoming more accepted nowadays, we are still very much stuck in this way of thinking. Public opinion doesn’t seem to bat an eye if a man romances a younger woman, yet we find it taboo when the roles are reversed. Jessi A. Charles highlights the plight of an aging woman as Freja becomes increasingly anxious about her older appearance and how this will appear to others when she and Frederik are in public.
“Freja Born” will appeal to readers who enjoy novels that evoke many emotions. The author has done an excellent job creating memorable characters whose unorthodox romance readers will root for. The book deftly explores the insecurities of an aging woman in love, and the darker elements certainly elevate the reading experience.
Twenty-four-year-old Frederik feels a connection as soon as his eyes meet Freja’s, and he quickly becomes beguiled by her friendly manner and unconventional beauty. Freja, too, feels the sparks but tries to push these feelings aside because of their fourteen-year age gap. But she cannot quell those feelings of desire, and the pair begin a passionate relationship.
Still, not everyone is happy about their romance. One obsessive individual will do whatever it takes to keep Freja and Frederik apart.
“Freja Born” by Jessi A. Charles is an emotionally driven novel that will make readers feel like they are on a rollercoaster. Luring in readers, the author combines soul-stirring romance, heartbreaking grief, and a twisted obsession. It is written from the third-person perspective, alternating in the narrative, and mostly follows Freja Born, a woman who is very conflicted about the prospect of loving a younger man. Beyond the age difference, Freja also struggles with feelings of unease, particularly concerning her safety. The book explores various themes like love, jealousy, and revenge.
As a woman of Freja’s age, I appreciated how the author addresses the double standard regarding age gaps in romantic partners. Being fourteen years Frederik’s senior, Freja grapples with feelings of shame and perceived judgment. While it is becoming more accepted nowadays, we are still very much stuck in this way of thinking. Public opinion doesn’t seem to bat an eye if a man romances a younger woman, yet we find it taboo when the roles are reversed. Jessi A. Charles highlights the plight of an aging woman as Freja becomes increasingly anxious about her older appearance and how this will appear to others when she and Frederik are in public.
“Freja Born” will appeal to readers who enjoy novels that evoke many emotions. The author has done an excellent job creating memorable characters whose unorthodox romance readers will root for. The book deftly explores the insecurities of an aging woman in love, and the darker elements certainly elevate the reading experience.
August 16, 2024
A dark romance with suspense! There’s varying scenes and themes but they all circle around the topic of age-gap relationships. The story centers around a woman who falls into a relationship with a man much younger than herself, and deals with her fear of going public with the relationship because of how she might be perceived. Sure enough there is one such young woman in the story who represents these group of people. The story is largely a romance story that deals with not only
The feelings of the protagonist and her love interest, but jealousy and how that can lead someone to become dangerous.
Overall the story is entertaining, the author tends to be very descriptive, which I liked for this book, and the prose exudes a darkness that is fitting for the feel of the story.
The feelings of the protagonist and her love interest, but jealousy and how that can lead someone to become dangerous.
Overall the story is entertaining, the author tends to be very descriptive, which I liked for this book, and the prose exudes a darkness that is fitting for the feel of the story.
March 21, 2026
Free Little Library find, going right back where I got it from.
The thriller portion of this novel doesn’t start until 160 pages or so, then gets wrapped up pretty quickly. There’s no mystery about “who done it?” and no satisfying ending. The characters, I’m sorry to say, are one dimensional and even cartoonish. The agent named Truman is so stereotypically gay, it’s almost embarrassing. Is he supposed to be a Tom Hollander playing Truman Capote in The Swans type? The only reason he stands out is because the protagonist and her love interest are so uninspiring. Out of all the characters, I felt the most empathy for Penny. That poor doggy didn’t do anything to deserve a sorry ending. I recommend Vladimir by Julia May Jonas for a mid-life crisis thriller fantasy.
The thriller portion of this novel doesn’t start until 160 pages or so, then gets wrapped up pretty quickly. There’s no mystery about “who done it?” and no satisfying ending. The characters, I’m sorry to say, are one dimensional and even cartoonish. The agent named Truman is so stereotypically gay, it’s almost embarrassing. Is he supposed to be a Tom Hollander playing Truman Capote in The Swans type? The only reason he stands out is because the protagonist and her love interest are so uninspiring. Out of all the characters, I felt the most empathy for Penny. That poor doggy didn’t do anything to deserve a sorry ending. I recommend Vladimir by Julia May Jonas for a mid-life crisis thriller fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews