What do you think?
Rate this book
Dirty Diana #2
Diana In Love
The second novel in the Dirty Diana trilogy – a story of desire within marriage from the stars of the hit feminist erotic podcast Dirty Diana …
Diana has her freedom – isn’t that what she wanted?
After years of watching her safe marriage go stale, Diana Wood separated from her husband, Oliver. But as his newly single life soars and she eats cereal for dinner, Diana begins to question her choices.
When a client invites her to Paris, she jumps at the chance – not only can she work on her secret project, showcasing real women’s deepest fantasies, but an elusive lover from her past will be there too.
As she heads off to the City of Light, Diana intends to indulge in every one of her desires – culinary, artistic, fashionable and sensual. But holidays don’t last for ever.
Is it possible to be married and be the spontaneous, creative, fully alive woman she rediscovers in Paris?
Diana has her freedom – isn’t that what she wanted?
After years of watching her safe marriage go stale, Diana Wood separated from her husband, Oliver. But as his newly single life soars and she eats cereal for dinner, Diana begins to question her choices.
When a client invites her to Paris, she jumps at the chance – not only can she work on her secret project, showcasing real women’s deepest fantasies, but an elusive lover from her past will be there too.
As she heads off to the City of Light, Diana intends to indulge in every one of her desires – culinary, artistic, fashionable and sensual. But holidays don’t last for ever.
Is it possible to be married and be the spontaneous, creative, fully alive woman she rediscovers in Paris?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
68 people are currently reading
13214 people want to read
About the author
Jen Besser
9 books158 followersHello! Thanks so much for visiting our GoodReads page. You can also find us on Instagram @jenandshana
Happy reading! Jen & Shana
Lifelong best friends Jen Besser and Shana Feste met as eleven-year-olds in California and have been collaborating ever since, beginning with writing, directing, producing and starring in many regrettable middle-school talent shows. Dirty Diana first launched as a podcast starring Demi Moore, debuted at #1 on Apple, was nominated for Podcast of the Year and won the Ambie for Best Fiction, Screenwriting. Shana is the award-winning screenwriter and director of several feature films, including Country Strong and Run Sweetheart Run. Jen is a fiction editor and publisher. They now live thousands of miles apart and talk every day. Dirty Diana is their debut novel.
Instagram: @jenandshana
linktr.ee/jenandshana
Happy reading! Jen & Shana
Lifelong best friends Jen Besser and Shana Feste met as eleven-year-olds in California and have been collaborating ever since, beginning with writing, directing, producing and starring in many regrettable middle-school talent shows. Dirty Diana first launched as a podcast starring Demi Moore, debuted at #1 on Apple, was nominated for Podcast of the Year and won the Ambie for Best Fiction, Screenwriting. Shana is the award-winning screenwriter and director of several feature films, including Country Strong and Run Sweetheart Run. Jen is a fiction editor and publisher. They now live thousands of miles apart and talk every day. Dirty Diana is their debut novel.
Instagram: @jenandshana
linktr.ee/jenandshana
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
February 4, 2025
it’s this bad boy’s pub day!!!! if you need utter pain and heartbreak in your books look no further than this series 💫
4.5 ⭐️
hell the fuck yeah brothers. this is what i’m talkin about!!!!
i love these characters and this world sm, this is the closest book to giving me that netflix drama fix and i need the next book yesterday! i genuinely recommend for quick and unputdownable brain candy books
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an arc!!
4.5 ⭐️
hell the fuck yeah brothers. this is what i’m talkin about!!!!
i love these characters and this world sm, this is the closest book to giving me that netflix drama fix and i need the next book yesterday! i genuinely recommend for quick and unputdownable brain candy books
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an arc!!
February 9, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
ugh the first book ended on a cliffhanger that had me scrambling for book two, and now THIS book ends with a cliffhanger😩
i devoured the second book just as quickly as the first, and loved it just as much, if not more. despite all the drama and chaos, these books are just so easy and enjoyable to read.
full of female friendships, female sex positivity, creativity, divorce and marital therapy, this series is really shaping up to be one of my new favorites.
i need book three (and perhaps a mini series???) ASAP
ugh the first book ended on a cliffhanger that had me scrambling for book two, and now THIS book ends with a cliffhanger😩
i devoured the second book just as quickly as the first, and loved it just as much, if not more. despite all the drama and chaos, these books are just so easy and enjoyable to read.
full of female friendships, female sex positivity, creativity, divorce and marital therapy, this series is really shaping up to be one of my new favorites.
i need book three (and perhaps a mini series???) ASAP
January 18, 2025
3.5/5
The first book in this series ended on a cliffhanger and this picks up immediately where book one ends. I really liked the first book and loved the message of sexual positivity especially for a slightly older woman and there’s more of that here. It did lose me a little along the way, it very much felt like a middle of a series filler book but I’m invested enough in Diana’s story that I’ll check out the next book. Once again the narrator was engaging and this story is perfect to binge on audio.
The first book in this series ended on a cliffhanger and this picks up immediately where book one ends. I really liked the first book and loved the message of sexual positivity especially for a slightly older woman and there’s more of that here. It did lose me a little along the way, it very much felt like a middle of a series filler book but I’m invested enough in Diana’s story that I’ll check out the next book. Once again the narrator was engaging and this story is perfect to binge on audio.
January 29, 2025
‘Diana in Love is the second book in the sensational Dirty Diana series—based on the #1 fiction podcast.
Traveling to Paris, Diana Wood reconnects with the man from her past who’s haunted her memories and ignited her imagination. Will this trip help her to reclaim the wild, sensual woman she used to be?’
Why these books bring me so much joy and delight, I couldn’t fluckin say. They also make me wanna run a supermarket sweep through Cupid’s Closet, but that’s neither here nor there…..
Lady Besser, miss ma'am, how could you leave me hangin again dammit!? I hadn't even packed my mountain-climbing gear. Gahh! I don’t think I’ve been this invested in anything since Ross rolled over the juice box and Rachel forgave him for 'finishing' before they'd even began.
Please just put me out of my misery and gimme book 3. I can't live life in the dark ffs.
Does Oliver get his sink fantasy? Meow. Does the delicious & elusive Jasper continue his wanderlust? Meowwmeowwwpurrrrrrr. And Diana, where's your heart gurhhh?
I’ll just be here waiting, treading water and anguish till July.
(Feel free to call me if you want my fantasy for Dirty D. I'm so damn down.)
The relationship between Diana and Jasper is lacking all kindsa depth. In book 1, I thought it was intentional, a mere delve into the past. Now, after finishing book 2, I know I was wrong. In book 2, they're in the present and their connection is still without depth. I mean, when they're together, Jasper's only mission is laying pipe and Diana's is only to recieve it. There's just not much else happening between them. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for them doing the laundry 85x a day, because it's evident they're both smelling colors and seeing sounds every single time they get their hands on each other.
But I feel like it's gotta be said, they reek more of fork buddies than once in a lifetime loves.
Regardless, I loved these books. Relatable, fresh and sexy as hell.
Big thanks you Random House Publishing Group | Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub Date: Feb 04 2025.
Traveling to Paris, Diana Wood reconnects with the man from her past who’s haunted her memories and ignited her imagination. Will this trip help her to reclaim the wild, sensual woman she used to be?’
Why these books bring me so much joy and delight, I couldn’t fluckin say. They also make me wanna run a supermarket sweep through Cupid’s Closet, but that’s neither here nor there…..
Lady Besser, miss ma'am, how could you leave me hangin again dammit!? I hadn't even packed my mountain-climbing gear. Gahh! I don’t think I’ve been this invested in anything since Ross rolled over the juice box and Rachel forgave him for 'finishing' before they'd even began.
Please just put me out of my misery and gimme book 3. I can't live life in the dark ffs.
Does Oliver get his sink fantasy? Meow. Does the delicious & elusive Jasper continue his wanderlust? Meowwmeowwwpurrrrrrr. And Diana, where's your heart gurhhh?
I’ll just be here waiting, treading water and anguish till July.
(Feel free to call me if you want my fantasy for Dirty D. I'm so damn down.)
The relationship between Diana and Jasper is lacking all kindsa depth. In book 1, I thought it was intentional, a mere delve into the past. Now, after finishing book 2, I know I was wrong. In book 2, they're in the present and their connection is still without depth. I mean, when they're together, Jasper's only mission is laying pipe and Diana's is only to recieve it. There's just not much else happening between them. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for them doing the laundry 85x a day, because it's evident they're both smelling colors and seeing sounds every single time they get their hands on each other.
But I feel like it's gotta be said, they reek more of fork buddies than once in a lifetime loves.
Regardless, I loved these books. Relatable, fresh and sexy as hell.
Big thanks you Random House Publishing Group | Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub Date: Feb 04 2025.
December 28, 2024
After the cliffhanger of book one, I was very excited to read Diana in Love as an Advanced Copy. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me and did not provide me a satisfying reason to continue on with this series.
I very much like the message that this series is attempting to send; sex positivity and female empowerment. As well, these authors have a great prose and have made these books easy to read without getting bogged down. For this sequel specifically, I did not see the purpose of this story at all, and it doesn't really feel like much happened. I do not see where Diana is headed, and sadly I am not invested in her outcome.
I hope the next book is a little less of an amalgamation of random plot points, but I won't be reading it to find out. Huge thanks to Dial Press, Jen Besser and Shana Feste, and NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I very much like the message that this series is attempting to send; sex positivity and female empowerment. As well, these authors have a great prose and have made these books easy to read without getting bogged down. For this sequel specifically, I did not see the purpose of this story at all, and it doesn't really feel like much happened. I do not see where Diana is headed, and sadly I am not invested in her outcome.
I hope the next book is a little less of an amalgamation of random plot points, but I won't be reading it to find out. Huge thanks to Dial Press, Jen Besser and Shana Feste, and NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 4, 2025This book seemed to come into my life at the right time. Story was relatable to me, as I have a male friend going through a similar experience as Diana. In the first installment we learn about her struggles with her marriage and a past lover, Jasper, who she reunites with. In this second installment we get to see her interact with Jasper, and get lost in the relationship, but learn nothing of their past relationship and why they broke up. I hope in the next installment we learn more about Jasper.
While this book was spicy, of which I am normally not a fan, it was not overbearing or cliche, and did not take away from the story. In addition, I did not feel that this book had as much substance as the first, so I hope the next installment provides more. Nonetheless, I cannot wait for the next read.
Thank you Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.opinions are my own.
While this book was spicy, of which I am normally not a fan, it was not overbearing or cliche, and did not take away from the story. In addition, I did not feel that this book had as much substance as the first, so I hope the next installment provides more. Nonetheless, I cannot wait for the next read.
Thank you Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.opinions are my own.
January 30, 2025
OMG THE ENDING!!!!!!
4.5/5
This book felt slow to start in the beginning but after the first maybe quarter of the book it got so good. Diana is doing a great job navigating the challenge she’s facing. It feels very real and relatable. Can’t wait for the next book!!!!
4.5/5
This book felt slow to start in the beginning but after the first maybe quarter of the book it got so good. Diana is doing a great job navigating the challenge she’s facing. It feels very real and relatable. Can’t wait for the next book!!!!
July 26, 2025
Diana in Love is book 2 in Jen Besser's Dirty Diana series. First, you definitely have to read book 1, Dirty Diana, before diving into this book. Book 1 ended on a cliffhanger and this book picks up right where that book ended. I am wholly vested in Diana's journey - her art, her love life, her friendships.
I love how we are on that journey with her, including the ups, downs, emotions, etc.
The trip to Paris and the ensuing relationship with Jasper is passionate but I found it lacking the emotion I was hoping for in her life after the glimpse we got in book 1. I found him too focused on himself and Diana needs more than that in her life after putting herself last for so long. The situation with her ex-husband Oliver is messy but I appreciated how they co-parented and the insights we get into their marriage and post-separation relationship.
This series is spicy and very focused on women's desires, embracing wants and acknowledging needs in relationships. The cliffhangers though.... ahhhh! Now to wait until August for book 3, Diana Says Yes.
The audiobook was well narrated and I enjoyed listening to it. Just don't listen where others can hear or see you blush because you know things gets spicy!!!
I love how we are on that journey with her, including the ups, downs, emotions, etc.
The trip to Paris and the ensuing relationship with Jasper is passionate but I found it lacking the emotion I was hoping for in her life after the glimpse we got in book 1. I found him too focused on himself and Diana needs more than that in her life after putting herself last for so long. The situation with her ex-husband Oliver is messy but I appreciated how they co-parented and the insights we get into their marriage and post-separation relationship.
This series is spicy and very focused on women's desires, embracing wants and acknowledging needs in relationships. The cliffhangers though.... ahhhh! Now to wait until August for book 3, Diana Says Yes.
The audiobook was well narrated and I enjoyed listening to it. Just don't listen where others can hear or see you blush because you know things gets spicy!!!
December 10, 2025
O M G??????? How is this even better than the first? I am utterly obsessed. Obsessed!!
The last sentence will haunt me in the best of ways. 🥰
Immediately continuing.
The last sentence will haunt me in the best of ways. 🥰
Immediately continuing.
December 18, 2025
These books are like crack to me, I go feral for this sh*t.
4.5/5 stars
4.5/5 stars
November 29, 2024
4.35 ⭐️
Picked up right where Dirty Diana ended. We see Diana struggling with her feelings in this book. Oliver is finally opening up about what he wants in therapy and taking accountability.
I honestly liked Diana more in the first book. Not gonna lie, she annoyed me a bit in this. I wanted to shake her several times.
I was pleasantly surprised with L’Wren’s character in a really good way. She’s an amazing friend and I love the friendship between her and Diana.
We do see Jasper in this one as well. I actually really liked him in this. I felt the connection and sexual tension between him and Diana anytime they were near each other.
There are some really good spicy scenes and man.. 🥵🥵 I was here for it.
There was a new character introduced and I absolutely loved her.
Now I bet some of yall are wondering.. well, who does Diana choose: Oliver or Jasper?
Good question lol. This book is going in a different direction than I anticipated and not necessarily in a bad way. I’m really curious to see how this is gonna end and who she continues her story with.
Definitely recommend if you liked Dirty Diana and you NEED to see where her life is headed. I CANNOT WAIT until book 3.
Picked up right where Dirty Diana ended. We see Diana struggling with her feelings in this book. Oliver is finally opening up about what he wants in therapy and taking accountability.
I honestly liked Diana more in the first book. Not gonna lie, she annoyed me a bit in this. I wanted to shake her several times.
I was pleasantly surprised with L’Wren’s character in a really good way. She’s an amazing friend and I love the friendship between her and Diana.
We do see Jasper in this one as well. I actually really liked him in this. I felt the connection and sexual tension between him and Diana anytime they were near each other.
There are some really good spicy scenes and man.. 🥵🥵 I was here for it.
There was a new character introduced and I absolutely loved her.
Now I bet some of yall are wondering.. well, who does Diana choose: Oliver or Jasper?
Good question lol. This book is going in a different direction than I anticipated and not necessarily in a bad way. I’m really curious to see how this is gonna end and who she continues her story with.
Definitely recommend if you liked Dirty Diana and you NEED to see where her life is headed. I CANNOT WAIT until book 3.
January 20, 2025
The second book in the Dirty Diana series picks up where the cliffhanger left off...and the result is tantalizing!
Diana reconnects with a man from her past but also begins questioning her feelings for her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
These books feel like having an intimate conversation with a close friend. Insert a girls trip to PARIS and the story takes off! Diana is reclaiming her sensual side; she enjoys the spontaneous and creative woman she is in Paris. But she's also navigating separation and motherhood so her emotions are all over the place. So much of this story will be relatable to women, particularly those who feel like their life is stagnant so they're trying to fulfill that SPARK. I love the friendships, the therapy scenes (Oliver gets a *little* redemption), and the themes of female empowerment. But I also appreciate how infuriating each character is because they're portrayals are real and raw. The narrator gives a great performance, too. This one gets very steamy, much like the first book, so if that's not your thing, you won't want to add this series to your list.
I'm so invested in Diana's story and I can't wait to see where this journey takes us.
Diana reconnects with a man from her past but also begins questioning her feelings for her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
These books feel like having an intimate conversation with a close friend. Insert a girls trip to PARIS and the story takes off! Diana is reclaiming her sensual side; she enjoys the spontaneous and creative woman she is in Paris. But she's also navigating separation and motherhood so her emotions are all over the place. So much of this story will be relatable to women, particularly those who feel like their life is stagnant so they're trying to fulfill that SPARK. I love the friendships, the therapy scenes (Oliver gets a *little* redemption), and the themes of female empowerment. But I also appreciate how infuriating each character is because they're portrayals are real and raw. The narrator gives a great performance, too. This one gets very steamy, much like the first book, so if that's not your thing, you won't want to add this series to your list.
I'm so invested in Diana's story and I can't wait to see where this journey takes us.
February 17, 2025
This is how you write a sequel! From the very first page, this book felt like reconnecting with an old friend—seamlessly picking up where the story left off and immersing me once again in Diana’s world. The narrative is raw, unflinchingly honest, and utterly intoxicating, not just in Diana’s personal evolution but in the deeply compelling arcs of those around her (L’Wren, I’m looking at you).
What makes this sequel so remarkable is its ability to weave together themes of self-discovery, emotional transparency, and the complex balancing act of identity as we navigate life’s ever-evolving roles. Diana’s journey is far from over, but this installment delivers a rich, satisfying progression—particularly through her intriguing new dynamic with Jasper. While I would have loved to see Oliver directly address the "hat lady" situation (perhaps I’m projecting here), it doesn’t take away from how masterfully this book deepens its characters and their relationships.
Diana only grows more fascinating with each chapter, as do the people who orbit her world. If this book is any indication, the final installment will be nothing short of extraordinary. I highly recommend this sequel—it is everything I hoped for and more!
What makes this sequel so remarkable is its ability to weave together themes of self-discovery, emotional transparency, and the complex balancing act of identity as we navigate life’s ever-evolving roles. Diana’s journey is far from over, but this installment delivers a rich, satisfying progression—particularly through her intriguing new dynamic with Jasper. While I would have loved to see Oliver directly address the "hat lady" situation (perhaps I’m projecting here), it doesn’t take away from how masterfully this book deepens its characters and their relationships.
Diana only grows more fascinating with each chapter, as do the people who orbit her world. If this book is any indication, the final installment will be nothing short of extraordinary. I highly recommend this sequel—it is everything I hoped for and more!
February 24, 2025
I really, really enjoyed this book! And a huge thank you to both GoodReads and Dial Trade Press for this copy to read.
In this second book, it picks up right where the first book ended and we go back into Diana's life. She's struggling and juggling so many things and in this book gets to go to Paris for a work trip, where she's able to indulge in all of her wants and needs.
This book is fast-paced and incredibly hard to put down. As I said before, I definitely enjoyed it but am cussing the fact that it ends on a huge cliffhanger just like the first book and now I have to wait until August to complete the trilogy.
Immensely enjoyable!
In this second book, it picks up right where the first book ended and we go back into Diana's life. She's struggling and juggling so many things and in this book gets to go to Paris for a work trip, where she's able to indulge in all of her wants and needs.
This book is fast-paced and incredibly hard to put down. As I said before, I definitely enjoyed it but am cussing the fact that it ends on a huge cliffhanger just like the first book and now I have to wait until August to complete the trilogy.
Immensely enjoyable!
April 1, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ Gostei deste livro tal e qual como gostei do primeiro!! Nem a mais, nem a menos!
Adorei ver a jornada da Diana depois do final estrondoso do 1° livro! Gostei de ver o crescimento dela e do Oliver e, em especial, a sua viagem a Paris! Adorei ver a terapia de casal (já sabem que eu e terapia é sempre a minha parte favorita) !! 🤌🏼
Acho que estas autoras gostam de nos dar finais inquietantes porque AGORA PRECISO DO ÚLTIMO!!! Quero muito terminar a trilogia!
Adorei ver a jornada da Diana depois do final estrondoso do 1° livro! Gostei de ver o crescimento dela e do Oliver e, em especial, a sua viagem a Paris! Adorei ver a terapia de casal (já sabem que eu e terapia é sempre a minha parte favorita) !! 🤌🏼
Acho que estas autoras gostam de nos dar finais inquietantes porque AGORA PRECISO DO ÚLTIMO!!! Quero muito terminar a trilogia!
February 27, 2025
#StillteamOliver
Let’s gooooooo. 👮♂️🚰 Get the handcuffs ready baby.
I loved book one. I enjoyed this book but I’m ready for the happily ever after ending.
Will Diana get her groove and family back or will there be more disappointment and heartbreak??
I will be over here cheering for Diana to find what makes her happy. But of course I want it to be Oliver. I can’t help but want the family to stay together. It’s obvious they still love each other. My hope is the separation will have made them stronger and give them both more courage to speak up and ask for what they want and need in their marriage.
With lots of great kinky sex.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Read the series, it’s different than your usual contemporary romance. Add some erotica and flair to your reading. 😆
Let’s gooooooo. 👮♂️🚰 Get the handcuffs ready baby.
I loved book one. I enjoyed this book but I’m ready for the happily ever after ending.
Will Diana get her groove and family back or will there be more disappointment and heartbreak??
I will be over here cheering for Diana to find what makes her happy. But of course I want it to be Oliver. I can’t help but want the family to stay together. It’s obvious they still love each other. My hope is the separation will have made them stronger and give them both more courage to speak up and ask for what they want and need in their marriage.
With lots of great kinky sex.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Read the series, it’s different than your usual contemporary romance. Add some erotica and flair to your reading. 😆
May 20, 2025
Щиро переживаю за Даяну.
Це історія про проблеми в шлюбі, про потребу говорити зі своєю другою половинкою.
Про те , що в сорок можна бути щасливою, головне спочатку самій зрозуміти, що для тебе щастя .
А я чекатиму на фінальну частину трилогії , бо мені дуже треба знати з ким же залишиться головна героїня 🥹
Це історія про проблеми в шлюбі, про потребу говорити зі своєю другою половинкою.
Про те , що в сорок можна бути щасливою, головне спочатку самій зрозуміти, що для тебе щастя .
А я чекатиму на фінальну частину трилогії , бо мені дуже треба знати з ким же залишиться головна героїня 🥹
May 3, 2025
i am obsessed with this series … pls let me get approved for the arc of the next one i can not wait until august
May 8, 2025
I LOVE how this book ended 🥲 I def wanted to see it play out more because I love the characters but fiiiiiiineeeeee, I get it.
I would’ve gave it 5 stars but some parts were a bit much for me.
I would’ve gave it 5 stars but some parts were a bit much for me.
July 27, 2025
I appreciate what the authors are doing here. It’s so refreshing to read romance with real life issues within mid-life relationships.
February 2, 2025
Diana In Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Wow. After book 1 and all the ups, downs, drama, and that cliff hanger I was so excited to dive into this ARC for book 2! Thank you to the publisher for the eARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!
While I love Diana’s story of sex positivity, exploring your deepest sexual fantasies, and trying to become her own woman after leaving her husband, this one was a bit all over the place for me. I wanted more of that drama that drove book one home and had me invested. Unfortunately, this one had lost the main plot point and instead we had several side stories intermingling that took away from Diana’s true journey.
In book 1, Diana’s best friend in Dallas, Loren, is happily married. Yet in book 2 she finds herself lusting after the local vet and quickly divorcing her husband to sleep with this guy and start a new fresh relationship. Bonding over being two divorced women was meant to be a funny joke but as it kept coming up it felt cheap to have another character seeming drop her husband. Maybe it was meant to show how Oliver and Diana aren’t truly done with their marriage as Loren and Kevin split up so quickly while Diana and Oliver kept going back to therapy? I’m unsure.
The trip to Paris was wild! Diana meets a man one day through her friend and sleeps with him only to the next day meet up with Jasper and start an international relationship? We didn’t address any of her and Jaspers history of why they failed the first time. They just fuck like rabbits and he comes into town occasionally to see her and make these wild plans without taking into consideration her life and her daughter. Clearly Jasper was never going to be a long term partner but it felt like Diana was so caught up in having a second chance with him in her 40’s while ignoring the long term hurt and distriction Jasper caused her. It just would have added more to the story if they dug deeper and rooted out Diana’s pain of their young relationship falling apart. While, I did enjoy that Jasper encouraged Diana to pursue her artist career, it only led to her being further divided from her actual life since she has not told Oliver about the website. It just seems like Diana is constantly living in limbo of this fantasy life she wants for herself.
Oliver in this book has moved on apparently and begins dating a woman his mother sets him up with, and yet he suggests that they go back to therapy to work on their communication. Also- what was that almost sleeping together part in the beginning? How can that not be addressed and pushed under the rug? I think Oliver having different romantic partners was truly healing for him to get his confidence back and be open to exploring more sexually with Diana in the future, but the fact that in their therapy session Diana tells him that he could have talked to her about his fantasies seems like a pot meet kettle scenario. Sure, she tried ONCE in book 1 to share her Dirty Diana project and he shut it down but she never talked to Oliver about how she actually wanted to spice up their sex life. It was like she kept that door firmly shut to Oliver but with Jasper, she opened that box without hesitation. It made me question whether she truly even loved Oliver to begin with if she couldn’t share that part of herself.
The ending of this one threw me. Diana and Jasper break up apparently and now Oliver is being his same caring partner as before, AND in a relationship, but now he’s all Diana wants. The tension had been there forever but for him to now finally be open to more explorative sexual acts with Diana seems like a quick turn around that could have occurred without this looming separation.
While I’m excited to continue the story to see how it all plays out, it just felt like a whole lot of nothing happened only to reach a conclusion that was readily available with open communication or a more show, not tell, experience between them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Wow. After book 1 and all the ups, downs, drama, and that cliff hanger I was so excited to dive into this ARC for book 2! Thank you to the publisher for the eARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!
While I love Diana’s story of sex positivity, exploring your deepest sexual fantasies, and trying to become her own woman after leaving her husband, this one was a bit all over the place for me. I wanted more of that drama that drove book one home and had me invested. Unfortunately, this one had lost the main plot point and instead we had several side stories intermingling that took away from Diana’s true journey.
In book 1, Diana’s best friend in Dallas, Loren, is happily married. Yet in book 2 she finds herself lusting after the local vet and quickly divorcing her husband to sleep with this guy and start a new fresh relationship. Bonding over being two divorced women was meant to be a funny joke but as it kept coming up it felt cheap to have another character seeming drop her husband. Maybe it was meant to show how Oliver and Diana aren’t truly done with their marriage as Loren and Kevin split up so quickly while Diana and Oliver kept going back to therapy? I’m unsure.
The trip to Paris was wild! Diana meets a man one day through her friend and sleeps with him only to the next day meet up with Jasper and start an international relationship? We didn’t address any of her and Jaspers history of why they failed the first time. They just fuck like rabbits and he comes into town occasionally to see her and make these wild plans without taking into consideration her life and her daughter. Clearly Jasper was never going to be a long term partner but it felt like Diana was so caught up in having a second chance with him in her 40’s while ignoring the long term hurt and distriction Jasper caused her. It just would have added more to the story if they dug deeper and rooted out Diana’s pain of their young relationship falling apart. While, I did enjoy that Jasper encouraged Diana to pursue her artist career, it only led to her being further divided from her actual life since she has not told Oliver about the website. It just seems like Diana is constantly living in limbo of this fantasy life she wants for herself.
Oliver in this book has moved on apparently and begins dating a woman his mother sets him up with, and yet he suggests that they go back to therapy to work on their communication. Also- what was that almost sleeping together part in the beginning? How can that not be addressed and pushed under the rug? I think Oliver having different romantic partners was truly healing for him to get his confidence back and be open to exploring more sexually with Diana in the future, but the fact that in their therapy session Diana tells him that he could have talked to her about his fantasies seems like a pot meet kettle scenario. Sure, she tried ONCE in book 1 to share her Dirty Diana project and he shut it down but she never talked to Oliver about how she actually wanted to spice up their sex life. It was like she kept that door firmly shut to Oliver but with Jasper, she opened that box without hesitation. It made me question whether she truly even loved Oliver to begin with if she couldn’t share that part of herself.
The ending of this one threw me. Diana and Jasper break up apparently and now Oliver is being his same caring partner as before, AND in a relationship, but now he’s all Diana wants. The tension had been there forever but for him to now finally be open to more explorative sexual acts with Diana seems like a quick turn around that could have occurred without this looming separation.
While I’m excited to continue the story to see how it all plays out, it just felt like a whole lot of nothing happened only to reach a conclusion that was readily available with open communication or a more show, not tell, experience between them.
November 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press/Random House for the eARC of this book. This is an honest review.
It is rare and thrilling when a second book in a series outshines the first. Such was the case with Diana In Love. I especially enjoyed the collision of past and present lives, not just with Jasper but with Alicia playing a more prominent role in this part of Diana’s journey. The disorientation of melding who you were with who you are was captured artfully, especially in the Paris chapters. As for the men in her life, this book was even more titillating and FRUSTRATING as the first, but in the best way. And that last sentence of that last chapter…I am dying for Diana Says Yes!
It is rare and thrilling when a second book in a series outshines the first. Such was the case with Diana In Love. I especially enjoyed the collision of past and present lives, not just with Jasper but with Alicia playing a more prominent role in this part of Diana’s journey. The disorientation of melding who you were with who you are was captured artfully, especially in the Paris chapters. As for the men in her life, this book was even more titillating and FRUSTRATING as the first, but in the best way. And that last sentence of that last chapter…I am dying for Diana Says Yes!
December 21, 2024
Diana in Love, the sequel to Dirty Diana picks up right where the first book in the series abruptly ended. A quick and light (but emotional) ride of self-discovery while navigating Diana & Oliver’s impending divorce, shared custody of Emmy, revisiting past relationships, and Diana’s career choices between investments or her art.
I enjoyed the character development and camaraderie among female friends while traveling together and supporting each other through difficult times in each others’ lives. This book puts all the spice on display without the cringe. Diana’s erotic artistic endeavor starts to really come to light and I’m curious to see how it will affects her personal relationships/motherhood in a small town. The messy and wavering feelings that come with divorce made me empathetic toward Diana & Oliver and especially their daughter Emmy, whom it begins to prove troubling in other parts of her life.
I didn’t really make the connection in any of the relationships Diana had about who she was “in love” with. I always struggle reading a series because I know one book will be lacking more than another and for me, this one didn’t feel quite as necessary to the storytelling. This book, like the first, ends in a cliffhanger and I am invested enough to want to read Diana Says Yes, the third book in the series when it comes out.
3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press/Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the character development and camaraderie among female friends while traveling together and supporting each other through difficult times in each others’ lives. This book puts all the spice on display without the cringe. Diana’s erotic artistic endeavor starts to really come to light and I’m curious to see how it will affects her personal relationships/motherhood in a small town. The messy and wavering feelings that come with divorce made me empathetic toward Diana & Oliver and especially their daughter Emmy, whom it begins to prove troubling in other parts of her life.
I didn’t really make the connection in any of the relationships Diana had about who she was “in love” with. I always struggle reading a series because I know one book will be lacking more than another and for me, this one didn’t feel quite as necessary to the storytelling. This book, like the first, ends in a cliffhanger and I am invested enough to want to read Diana Says Yes, the third book in the series when it comes out.
3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press/Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 2, 2025
ARC from NetGalley - publication date is Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
I am typically skeptical of sequels, but I think I liked this better than the first book. It was more in-depth with regard to getting to know Diana, Oliver, and Jasper. It was so well written and relatable that I found myself bouncing back and forth between who I thought Diana should be with. I could feel Diana's frustrations, boredom, excitement, love, lust, sorrow, and fear. The thoughts, decisions, and feelings, of these characters are all believable. Nothing is exaggerated, repetitive, or overdone. The character development in this series is so refreshing!
As a 47 year old woman, it felt like these characters were my contemporaries. Many books like this have characters in their 20s who have silly inner monologues and make immature and irrational decisions, so I really appreciate these characters who somehow feel like friends.
I wish I had the third book in my hands to see where life takes everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Randon House Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am typically skeptical of sequels, but I think I liked this better than the first book. It was more in-depth with regard to getting to know Diana, Oliver, and Jasper. It was so well written and relatable that I found myself bouncing back and forth between who I thought Diana should be with. I could feel Diana's frustrations, boredom, excitement, love, lust, sorrow, and fear. The thoughts, decisions, and feelings, of these characters are all believable. Nothing is exaggerated, repetitive, or overdone. The character development in this series is so refreshing!
As a 47 year old woman, it felt like these characters were my contemporaries. Many books like this have characters in their 20s who have silly inner monologues and make immature and irrational decisions, so I really appreciate these characters who somehow feel like friends.
I wish I had the third book in my hands to see where life takes everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Randon House Publishing Group for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2025
Wow—Diana in Love is a stirring and provocative exploration of womanhood, desire, and self-discovery. From the first chapter, I was pulled into Diana’s world and emotional whirlwind. Jen Besser does an incredible job of painting a character caught between two equally powerful forces: the pull of tradition and family versus the magnetic call of self-liberation and sensual identity.
The writing is layered and intimate, and I especially appreciated how Besser didn’t make Diana’s choice easy—or obvious. As a reader, I was constantly questioning what I wanted for Diana. Do I root for her to go back to her husband and preserve the life she built? Or do I want her to break free and fully embrace the woman she’s becoming—independent, passionate, and unapologetically herself?
And that cliffhanger ending?! It left me reeling in the best way. It’s one of those rare endings that doesn’t just shock you, it makes you feel everything all over again and sit with the discomfort and beauty of not knowing what’s next. I love that Besser didn’t wrap it up in a neat bow—because neither does life.
A deeply moving and honest read. If you’re into stories that explore identity, relationships, and the complexity of choice, this one is for you.
The writing is layered and intimate, and I especially appreciated how Besser didn’t make Diana’s choice easy—or obvious. As a reader, I was constantly questioning what I wanted for Diana. Do I root for her to go back to her husband and preserve the life she built? Or do I want her to break free and fully embrace the woman she’s becoming—independent, passionate, and unapologetically herself?
And that cliffhanger ending?! It left me reeling in the best way. It’s one of those rare endings that doesn’t just shock you, it makes you feel everything all over again and sit with the discomfort and beauty of not knowing what’s next. I love that Besser didn’t wrap it up in a neat bow—because neither does life.
A deeply moving and honest read. If you’re into stories that explore identity, relationships, and the complexity of choice, this one is for you.
January 27, 2025
Vom zweiten Buch der Reihe habe ich mir Großes erhofft. Eine tiefere Beziehung zu Jasper, mehr Konflikte mit Oliver und natürlich Dianas weitere Reise bei Dirty Diana. Bis auf die Szenen mit Oliver hätte man für mich aber auch den Rest einfach weglassen können.
Obwohl die Beziehung zu Oliver maximal kompliziert ist und die Fronten weiterhin verhärtet bleiben, sind die beiden einfach faszinierend. Genau das hat das Buch für mich spannend gemacht – was zwischen ihnen passiert. Was die Reihe für mich so lesenswert macht, ist die Frage, ob die beiden wieder zusammenfinden oder doch getrennt bleiben. Und dann ist da noch Emmy, ihre Tochter, die in diesem Konflikt mitschwingt.
Der Fokus liegt in diesem Teil allerdings viel stärker auf Jasper – und er hat mich leider voll enttäuscht. Außer (teils öffentlich ausgelebt) immer denselben Szenen voller Lust, die beliebig austauschbar wirken, hatte die Beziehung mit ihm einfach nichts zu bieten. Das hinterlässt insgesamt einen ziemlich faden Beigeschmack.
Was mich aber am meisten gestört hat, war, dass die Handlung in diesem Teil viel zu kurz kam. Wirklich viel passiert ist nicht, und die ständigen Erwähnungen von Alkohol, Drogen, Reisen und Oberflächlichkeiten haben mich einfach nur enttäuscht. Basierend auf dem letzten Teil hatte ich definitiv mehr erwartet.
Trotzdem bin ich weiter gespannt auf Oliver und Diana – die beiden sind einfach der Kern der Geschichte, der mich bei der Stange hält. Ich lese den letzten Teil auf jeden Fall noch.
Obwohl die Beziehung zu Oliver maximal kompliziert ist und die Fronten weiterhin verhärtet bleiben, sind die beiden einfach faszinierend. Genau das hat das Buch für mich spannend gemacht – was zwischen ihnen passiert. Was die Reihe für mich so lesenswert macht, ist die Frage, ob die beiden wieder zusammenfinden oder doch getrennt bleiben. Und dann ist da noch Emmy, ihre Tochter, die in diesem Konflikt mitschwingt.
Der Fokus liegt in diesem Teil allerdings viel stärker auf Jasper – und er hat mich leider voll enttäuscht. Außer (teils öffentlich ausgelebt) immer denselben Szenen voller Lust, die beliebig austauschbar wirken, hatte die Beziehung mit ihm einfach nichts zu bieten. Das hinterlässt insgesamt einen ziemlich faden Beigeschmack.
Was mich aber am meisten gestört hat, war, dass die Handlung in diesem Teil viel zu kurz kam. Wirklich viel passiert ist nicht, und die ständigen Erwähnungen von Alkohol, Drogen, Reisen und Oberflächlichkeiten haben mich einfach nur enttäuscht. Basierend auf dem letzten Teil hatte ich definitiv mehr erwartet.
Trotzdem bin ich weiter gespannt auf Oliver und Diana – die beiden sind einfach der Kern der Geschichte, der mich bei der Stange hält. Ich lese den letzten Teil auf jeden Fall noch.
January 4, 2025
This series is so addicting I can’t handle it!!!!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what will happen. This one picks up right where book 1 leaves off and is filled with just as much (if not more) spicy moments. This time it’s more about Diana experiencing those moments than it is about reading fantasies but we do get a couple throughout.
That ending???? We loveee a romantic gesture but is it enough? Idk honestly idek who I want her to end up with at this point. Perhaps Alicia??
The Paris trip in this one was so much fun. A girls trip with some steamy hookups - we loveee to see it. The female friendships in this book are top tier. I’d love a book about Alicia, I think she’s probably my fave character. Just a ride or die with great advice and better humor. These books do feel a little chaotic and all over the place but I think that’s what makes them feel real. Cannot wait to see what happens in book 3!!
That ending???? We loveee a romantic gesture but is it enough? Idk honestly idek who I want her to end up with at this point. Perhaps Alicia??
The Paris trip in this one was so much fun. A girls trip with some steamy hookups - we loveee to see it. The female friendships in this book are top tier. I’d love a book about Alicia, I think she’s probably my fave character. Just a ride or die with great advice and better humor. These books do feel a little chaotic and all over the place but I think that’s what makes them feel real. Cannot wait to see what happens in book 3!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
This was so good!! Diana In Love picks up immediately where Dirty Diana left off and it did not disappoint. I loved the friendship between Diana, L'Wren, and Alicia as well as the *sort of* redemption arc beginning for Oliver. My one complaint is that throughout the book, I started to question if Jasper is even real or just in her head. Its just so much insta-lust that I didn't care whether or not he was a part of the story. Now dont get me wrong, those scenes were hot, but I almost wish Diana had explored just dating in general. 4.5 stars
February 2, 2025
Oh, Diana! She was so so relatable. Being a woman in her forties who has been where Diana is, I could feel her emotions to my core. And why is sex such a taboo subject? We all want it, need it but we can’t talk about it? And the relationship with Jasper, right on the tips of her fingers but so far away. Everything about this book could be real life. But in the end, was that her fantasy or was he really there? I can’t wait for the final book to find out how it all plays out for Diana, L’Wren, Oliver and Alicia. Such a well written book!
March 3, 2025
Warning: explicit sexual content…and I was here 👏🏻for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻 Book #2 in the Dirty Diana series. I loved it just as much as the first. More sex than the first book…explicit visuals. Have you seen the Instagram reels where a woman is listening to a smut book but looking like she’s reading Winnie the Pooh…yeah…there was a few chapters where keeping an unchanged face was challenging. Sex aside I loved the growth of the characters and the strength and comfort of your best friend. Short and sweet, deep, complex, real and sexy and hell.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews