The Turning Tides of Us

by Lise Gold

Control-freak CEO Evelyn Rothschild has conquered every challenge in her path at the helm of a luxury resort empire - until she meets Val Mendoza. Much younger and unapologetically idealistic, Val is a sustainable resort developer who won't bend her principles for anyone.

Having lost her parents young, Val keeps her guard up and her relationships casual. But there's something magnetic about Evelyn's rigid exterior and the softer side she glimpses beneath it.

As they clash over their forced collaboration on a development in Mallorca, their professional rivalry transforms into a connection that confuses them both. For two women who see the world so differently, falling in love might be their riskiest venture yet.

Set against the stunning Mediterranean, The Turning Tides of Us is a slow-burn, emotional age-gap romance about identity and sexual awakening.

Genres: Lesbian, Enemies To Lovers, Lesbian Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Audiobook, Femme Femme

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2025

About the author

Lise Gold is an author of lesbian romance. Her romantic attitude, enthusiasm for travel and love for feel good stories form the heartland of her writing. Born in London to a Norwegian mother and English father, and growing up between the UK, Norway, Zambia and the Netherlands, she feels at home pretty much everywhere and has an unending curiosity for new destinations. She goes by 'write what you know' and is often found in exotic locations doing research or getting inspired for her next novel.

Working as a designer for fifteen years and singing semi- professionally, Lise has always been a creative at heart. Her novels are the result of a quest for a new passion after resigning from her design job in 2018.

When not writing from her kitchen table, Lise can be found cooking, at the gym or singing her heart out somewhere, preferably country or blues. She lives in London with her dogs El Comandante and Bubba.


Reviews

[Vi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like a nice little age gap ice queen romance as much as the next girl, but there are some age inconsistencies in this book.

Mia's age changes a few times (between 25 and 32). Evelyn's age is never mentioned, but simple math with her mentioning having Mia at 17, she is either 42 or 49 which is quite a big difference. I'm assuming it was just an oversight after changing Mia's age later and just forgetting to update earlier chapters, but I dunno.

Honestly, the worst part of this is Evelyn's father dating someone who is apparently 28. There is an "age gap" and then there is... weird. I don't believe his age is ever mentioned either, but just based on Evelyn's age (assuming 49), the man has to be in his 70s yeah?

He's literally dating someone younger than his granddaughter. Ick

A 45+ year age gap is quite a lot and honestly it made the whole thing extremely...creepy. Especially when Evelyn seems to be the only one who sees the problem.

[Lady Olenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

The beginning came off as standard and I didn’t have much expectation from the book. But as the story progressed further, the characters and the setting grew on me. Mallorca and the island vibes became almost tangible I could taste the salt in the air. The author was very good at immersing the reader in the setting and scenes. Integrating my self with the character, although none were relatable to my life, was very gradual and smooth, almost imperceptible. I just found myself quite invested in the characters’ lives. This was such a comfortable “feel good” read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this delightful tale of unexpected romance, we dive into an age-gap love story between two ambitious resort developers. Meet Evelyn, the graceful and experienced CEO of Rothschild Resorts, and Val, a youthful and dynamic CEO who's changing the game in the hospitality industry with her focus on sustainability. Their paths cross when they both compete for the same opportunity to design and build a resort on an island.

Evelyn ends up winning the tender, but fate has other plans as she has to bring Val on board as a consultant for the project. What begins as a clash of ideas soon turns into an exciting journey of compromise and growth. As they work through their creative differences, they discover surprising truths about themselves and each other.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different slant on my usual romantic reads. I thought the age gap might be a problem but as I got to know the characters I didn’t see ‘age’ anymore but two women who simply were meant to be together. And they slotted into their equally not-usual family group. The HEA left me with a comfortable, and comforting feeling of ‘everything fit’.

[cloverxheart · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be the most boring book I've ever read.
I don't mind and slow book and the premise sounded so up my street, but the execution was horrible.
I found myself skimming and skimming and skimming because I just didn't care and I was hoping it would get better.
It did get better in the last ~50 pages, but I was so done with it that I still didn't care.

I didn't like the characters, the execution of the plot was boring, the romance wasn't believable in the slightest.
Also, the inconsistency with the ages? How did that even happen? Don't you proof read a book before publishing it?
I could have looked past that, had the story been good, but sadly it wasn't.
The age gap between candy and evenlys dad was also rather creepy - she's 28 and he must be in his 70s, at least late 60s

I've enjoyed other books by the author and I'll most likely pick up more, but this just wasn't done very well in my opinion.

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(rounded up from 3.5)

As I always get with Lise Gold, this was a really easy read with likeable characters and a fun setting. I did find a couple of things a bit weaker than other Lise Gold books I have enjoyed, such as the telling instead of showing why the main characters connect (only one instance of actually spending time with each other as people and it's only to fast forward through hours and note that it's been hours talking. About what, pray tell us so that we, as the readers, may see how you are connecting). There is also an odd subplot that turns up at the end of the story which feels a bit out of left field.

Overall, though, enjoyable, an easy read, and a fun premise about multinational hotel groups and sustainable hotel development ideologies clashing.

[Flannery Pillion-Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ayo, how old is anyone in this book??

[Rhaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies, Age Gaps, and Emotional Unraveling

I’m not usually a fan of first-person POV, so I approached The Turning Tides of Us with some hesitation. It was added on my April TBR without any form of research or review, and I decided to power through despite my initial reservations. I’m glad I did, once I got over my personal ick toward the chosen perspective, I found myself thoroughly engaged.

The story was captivating, with a slow-burn intensity that matched the emotional depth of the characters. I particularly enjoyed the banter between Val and Evelyn in the early stages, it struck the perfect balance between flirtatious tension and genuine personality clashes. The comical scenes were a welcome surprise and helped lighten the narrative in just the right places.

There was, however, one small issue that stood out to me, especially as someone who enjoys the age-gap trope: the lack of clarity around the characters’ ages. I found myself doing mental math with Mia’s age to estimate Evelyn’s, but the inconsistent references made it frustrating. While this might be a minor detail for most readers, for someone detail-oriented like me, specifics matter, especially when it contributes to understanding the dynamic between the leads.

That said, the book was still a lovely and satisfying read. I genuinely liked both main characters. I appreciated the way Val challenged Evelyn, not just professionally but emotionally. She never backed down or allowed herself to be intimidated by Evelyn’s formidable presence, yet she still provided a safe, steady space for Evelyn to lower her guard. Watching a powerful woman like Evelyn slowly melt under Val’s persistence and empathy? Chef’s kiss.

The novel is at its best when showcasing two strong, headstrong women clashing, connecting, and ultimately softening for one another. I’m always drawn to sapphic romances that highlight emotional evolution, and The Turning Tides of Us delivers that beautifully.

[Chelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Turning Tides of Us

An age-gap, enemies-to-lovers, toaster oven, late in life lesbian romance, set in the beautiful island of Mallorca.
Val and Evelyn meet by competing for a bid to build a luxurious resort in the area. These two could not be more opposite in anything they do. However, they're forced to work together and, of course, find that there's more to the other than they thought. Before you know it, neither of them can stop thinking of the other.

So many good things about this book, but I found the story relaxing. Maybe it was the setting, but it was pleasantly entertaing.

[Violet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 - sapphic, age gap, contemporary, ice queen, enemies to lovers, mc has a kid. Disappointing. The hotel plot felt underdeveloped and mostly just an excuse for being in Mallorca, which was somewhat of a letdown. Also, I can enjoy a reasonable age gap (I generally check out when it hits 20+), but I really disliked the dad subplot and his relationship here. On top of that, the conflict resolution and the epilogue didn’t work for me either. I’ll stop here and just say this one wasn't my cup of tea.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this enemies to lovers, ice queen, age gap was good. I liked both MCs, the storyline and of course the goats 😊

I kept being distracted, however, by the age discrepancies with Mia, Evelyn’s daughter, (aside from the ones I commented on, there was at least one other). Unfortunately, this and a couple other inconsistencies had an impact on my enjoyment of the book.
It’s a cute story otherwise and I’m glad others were able to get over themselves and see beyond what I couldn’t.

[Toni LibraLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Truly Wonderful Novel

I hate when reviewers recount to the reader, the entire story and how wonderful each moment was.
So, in an effort to encourage you actually read this book, I will just tell you how I reacted to it, and if that works, I pray you will read it, because I am sure you will not only enjoy it, but will actually be better off for doing so.
To begin with, Lise Gold is a fantastic author
✍️. I have read approximately 6-8 of her novels and, not only have I enjoyed each one, but actually felt as though I learned from the experience.
Until Turning Tides, I thought that The Scent of Rome was her best novel, however, I am now convinced that Turning Tides has taken over first place.
There are so many important subjects that Ms. Gold touched upon in her novel.
Age
May December relationships
Sudden Awareness of one’s sexuality
Upbringing
Care for the environment
Grief
Courage
Loss
Commitment to one’s beliefs
Commitment to family
I could go on and on.
This is truly a “slow-burn” novel, but the wait, along with the development of the main characters on their journey toward self discovery,truly makes it worth the wait.
And the eventual passion makes it worth the wait.
I encourage you to read this very enjoyable novel, filled with wonderful supporting characters, and beautifully described settings. Enjoy the trip.
Thank you Ms. Gold for sharing yourself with us 💝

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

If you love sapphic romances with tension you can feel in your bones, you NEED to pick up The Turning Tides of Us by Lise Gold.

This is an age-gap, ice queen, slow burn, workplace rivals-to-lovers story between two incredibly strong-willed women—both CEOs of their own development companies—and the dynamic is EVERYTHING.

Val completely stole my heart. Her backstory adds so much depth to her character, and the way it fuels her passion for sustainability in how she lives and her views to the progress of the hospitality industry feels so authentic and refreshing. Every time she talks about eco-conscious development or personal life choices, it never feels preachy—just deeply rooted in who she is. Seeing the world through Val’s eyes is honestly kind of magical.

And then there’s Evelyn… the definition of an ice queen. Controlled, intimidating, almost untouchable at first—but watching her slowly unravel? Watching her become more open, more contemplative, more human—it was so captivating I couldn’t look away. Her self discovery was one of the best things of this book, because I’m a sucker every time a character realizes there’s more to life than their work, their routine or the opinion of others.

Their relationship progression is chef’s kiss:
rivals → reluctant colleagues → friends → deeply connected lovers

The WORKPLACE TENSION?? Their arguments, their clashing visions, the way their chemistry sparks through every disagreement… it’s electric. And what I loved most is that neither of them “breaks” the other. They see each other’s walls and just… waltz right in anyway. It creates something so much deeper than your typical romance.

The spice isn’t over-the-top, but the quiet intensity of their moments together? It fits their story perfectly—emotional, charged, and meaningful.

Also, the writing deserves its own moment. The sustainability discussions are genuinely informative without ever dragging the story down—in fact, they elevate it. And the scenery? So vivid and immersive, especially when Val and Evelyn interact with local communities. You don’t just read this book—you experience it.

If you’re into slow burns with emotional depth, powerful women, and layered storytelling… this one’s going to stay with you 💙

[BeReads17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved most about this book was the rivals-to-lovers dynamic. It felt done right. This wasn’t cruelty for the sake of drama or characters being unnecessarily mean. They were simply two people in the same field, approaching the same work in completely different ways—and that friction made sense. Watching that tension soften into respect, then friendship, and finally something deeper was genuinely beautiful. The emotional progression felt earned.

I also loved how the age gap was handled. Normally, age-gap romances can feel uncomfortable or cliché, but this one added a layer of emotional irony that worked. Seeing Evelyn struggle with her father being in love with a younger woman, only to later find herself in the same position, added depth to her character and made the relationship feel more intentional rather than sensational. The family dynamics throughout the story were another highlight—they grounded the romance and gave the emotional moments more weight.

Overall, the book was genuinely wonderful.

The missing star comes down to a few things. First, age-gap stories often rely on the same internal conflict of “you’re too young for me,” and while I understand the intention, it can feel repetitive. At the end of the day, two consenting adults making a choice together is what matters most, and I wish the story had moved past that hesitation more quickly. Second, I personally love an epilogue with a bigger time jump. I wanted to see them one, two, or even five years down the road—to witness the lasting impact of their relationship. And finally, I would have loved just a little more yearning. The emotional buildup was strong, but a touch more longing could have made the payoff even more powerful.

Even with those small critiques, this was a beautiful, heartfelt story with a romance that felt authentic, layered, and deeply satisfying.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time for a bit of romance with The Turning Tides of Us by Lise Gold.

Evelyn Rothschild is a no-nonsense CEO who built a luxury resort empire through sheer control and determination. She’s used to winning, until a high-stakes project on the island of Mallorca forces her into an uneasy partnership with Val Mendoza.

Val is fourteen years younger, fiercely idealistic, and deeply committed to sustainable development. She won’t compromise her principles, even for a powerful player like Evelyn. Thrown together after competing for the same tender, the two women clash from the start—their opposing views on business, the environment, and life itself creating constant friction.

Beneath the tension, though, something shifts. Val catches glimpses of a softer side to Evelyn’s rigid exterior, while Evelyn finds herself drawn to Val’s passion and unguarded honesty. For Val, who lost her parents young and usually keeps things casual, the pull feels dangerously real. As they navigate the project together amid Mallorca’s sun-drenched shores and rugged beauty, their professional rivalry slowly gives way to a deeper, more confusing connection.

It was a fairly relaxed read with little angst and lots of Spanish island vibes (goats included). Check it out.

4 Stars

[wren4777 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better! Definitely better than the last couple of Lise Gold novels I've read. The leads were decent and surprisingly likeable, moreso than I would have expected for a couple of luxury resort developers. The side characters were pretty great too, especially Mateo the bartender.

I didn't feel massively compelled by the plot, especially given how late the discovery of the celestite cave was placed in the narrative. Despite that, I don't feel like I've wasted my time reading it, and I did feel some level of emotional pull toward the characters.

I might be a bit biased because I generally tend to dislike first person, but I really do think this novel would have been better if it it was written in the third person. Given how Gold attempted to emotionally sway the reader, it would have been IMO more effective if we could have had both characters' thoughts on their situation without having to wait for the next chapter entirely.

Also, as some other reviewers have pointed out, there's a severe editing mistake with Evelyn's daughter's age (at least in the edition I read). At different points in the novel she's 24, 30, or 32. It's a bit disappointing to see such a lack of care put into a release by such a popular author.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Turning Tides of Us is a lovely age-gap romance about finding love when you least expect it. Val and Evelyn are two ambitious, independent, dynamic women who, on the surface, seem to have very little in common. As the story unfolds and they spend more time working together, their layers are slowly revealed, and the two grow closer in ways neither anticipated. The majestic backdrop of Mallorca provides an exquisite setting that perfectly complements their journey.

Abby Craden and Ava Flynn do an amazing job narrating this beautiful story. Flynn perfectly captures Val’s voice and personality, while Craden infuses both iciness and yearning into Evelyn’s chapters. The pacing is smooth and engaging, and the emotional moments feel genuine, making the audiobook immersive from start to finish.

Overall, The Turning Tides of Us is a beautifully written and tender love story about connection, growth, and taking chances on unexpected love. With compelling characters, a stunning setting, and excellent narration, it’s a story that lingers long after the final chapter.

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lise Gold is one of my favorite authors. Her books linger on my mind. They’re well written, the characters are interesting and the stories are filled with passion and emotion. This story centers around an age gap love story between two resort developers. Very different not only in age but in personal experiences and how they view life and the world. But life has a surprise for each one, and they must choose happiness over their fears. Evelyn, the older CEO, heiress to Rothschild Resorts, has never known love. Her world are meetings, business and corporate success. Val, the younger CEO, at 28 years of age, she has grown up fast and built a successful company. I couldn’t put it down as I always do with Lise’s books. The background of Mallorca and Ibiza add to the charm of the story and you find yourself dreaming of the Mediterranean under the stars. Loved it.

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the story and in the beginning I was drawn in. Even though some of Evelyn’s thoughts and things she said really irked me. I couldn’t get past the blatant mishandling of the continuity of Mia’s age and therefore Evelyn’s. She says she had Mia at 17 and that she is 25. That makes Evelyn 42. But then later on, Mia says she’s 32 and then at the end, Evelyn says something about dating a woman younger than her daughter. So either Evelyn is 42 or 49. I’m
Not sure why the inconsistency bothers me so much, but it does.

I found myself not really liking Evelyn either. She was pretty judgmental throughout the entire book. I also didn’t understand the point of having Val say something in the epilogue about suddenly not knowing if she wanted kids?

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story like always when they're Lise Gold's. Great characters, nice built up, some pining and steamy sex. I also like the short chapters alternating POVs between Val to Evelyn. I loved that it was set in Palma. I've been there several times and it has become one of my favorite destinations for a relaxing holiday. Indeed there was some confusion about the age of Mia and therefore Evelyn's as well. Also a few little things that must have been overlooked during editing. That was a bit annoying. But overall it was just another great story by Lise Gold. I certainly recommand reading this! 4+⭐️

[RomanceReadingJess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. Lise Gold has such a gift for deep emotional storytelling. The enemies to lovers trope is definitely a favorite of mine and their back and forth was just delicious. I ate it up. This book combines enemies to lovers with an age-gap and a little workplace romance since they're forced to work together on their development. I felt like I was experiencing every emotion right along with Evelyn and Val. The internal struggles, the yearning, the passion?! Yes, this book had it all! 5 stars across the board. I'll definitely be recommending and reading again.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good classic Lise Gold novel until the breakup, which came exactly at 70% (like clockwork), felt forced, made Evelyn and Mia look bad, and resolved itself without growth.
In fact, the story could have gone directly from the 70% mark to the epilogue, and it would have been better for it.
I also would have liked the father to ask for forgiveness for the years of emotional unavailability instead of gaslighting his daughter into accepting the new him. She had to become an Ice Queen to survive his neglect, and then he shames her for it without ever apologizing.
Still a positive experience, but these flaws lower it from 4 stars to 3.

[Rikki Ziegelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because I thought the book picked up about 80% in. This is an easy read, but I will say the characters lacked chemistry and depth. I felt like they barely knew each other and their connection was based solely on attraction. Also there was inconsistencies with the ages of several of the characters which got confusing. At first I thought I had a bad memory but I was relieved to see other people say the same thing in reviews. But it’s not a bad story at all, and I love Lise Gold’s writing!

[Tammy Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This story is well written and takes a different turn on how a big CEO Evelyn has to build her new luxury hotel. Val is a young CEO of her eco friendly hotels. The committee wants eco friendly but want Evelyn's company to build it with consulting from Val. Val is layed back, easy going and care free. Evelyn the typical Ice Queen. This story of learning to letting go of control and see the real beauty in things, to truly understand how you view things so differently that it changes you. A great and well written story to read.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I have seen the brilliance of Lise Gold in another book (The Sailor Situation), but this one was mostly a miss for me. I couldn’t get past the inconsistency in Evelyn’s daughter Mia’s age (25 vs. 32), which was a pretty big difference given she’d either be a few years younger or older than Val, which is the way she’s described in various contradictory parts of the book. Beyond that, Evelyn’s evolution from ice queen to go-with-the flow was a bit far-fetched given the way she was initially described. Apart from those criticisms, it was was well-written.

[Tempe Luvs Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this slow burn, age gap story. Two developers competing for the same project, butting heads, arguing. The 20-something younger Val is the free-spirited, ecologically minded one who eventually melts the older ice queen, Evelyn who is the developer of large scale elite properties. The two ladies have completely different visions.
I don’t think what I said to be a spoiler because there was a lot that had to happen before they found love. I highly recommend this book.

[Lyric Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Today book was immensely heartwarming! Such an incredible read from depictions of the tropical landscape to their attraction. This is the definition of an age gap romance with a 21 year gap. This comes to say that I grew to enlightenment with the characters in the sense that wisdom and love depend on circumstances. And live has no age, although let’s not ignore that some instances are completely unacceptable. Anyway, what a great book!

[Michael Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravery

Evelyn is four years old and the CEO of company. Val is much younger than Evelyn and they come together on a project in the Caribbean. I like the way the author shaped the characters so that each of them conquered their fears about being in the relationship and caring about someone else. Workers always come first and now Val and Evelyn find themselves caring for each other. I recommend this book for all who like a good romance.

[Bon Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED!

I had difficulty getting through the first chapters, not because of the writing, pacing, story, structure, characters, or setting. Simply because I was not in the right mood! I didn’t realize this until I was almost finished and was thoroughly enjoying the read.

The truth is, I loved this book. I LOVE ALL of Lise Gold’s books. She gives new meaning to vacationing through the pages of wonderful books.

[Ash Burcham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of the reviews and am confused about why so many people commented on the MC age. It's pretty obvious to me one was 28 and the other was 49. They mention the age of the younger MC, over and over, and simple math tells you the age of the other MC. Some people should actually read a book before they start writing negative reviews.

Great plot. Perfect age gap romance, little on the spice.