Promises We Meant to Keep

by Adrian J. Smith

A desperate kiss. A fake-dating arrangement. A past that haunts them both.

Elia Sharpe has closed herself off from love and friendship after a devastating accusation of impropriety. But after eighteen years, she wants to do things differently. When her former student is hired as the temporary Head of School instead of her, she knows that it’ll be a disaster. Elia is determined to keep her name free of another scandal and prove she was right for the job all along.

When a position opens at Kamryn’s old school, it’s her golden opportunity to escape from her recent breakup. But when her ex-girlfriend shows up at a fall festival, Kamryn takes desperate measures to hide just how unhappy she really is. And she kisses Elia Sharpe—her former English teacher and current bane of her existence. In a desperate attempt to protect herself, Kamryn begs Elia to fake-date for her best friend’s wedding.

All is well…

Until the past threatens their future.

And Elia has one choice. Trust Kamryn to do her job and do it well.

Will they work together to expose the true perpetrator? Or will the past cause irreconcilable differences?

Buy it today and disappear for hours into Promises We Meant to Keep, a steamy age gap, sapphic romance featuring a two teachers who are just trying to protect each other from the inevitable.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, Lesbian Fiction, Contemporary, Fake Dating

408 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2025

About the author

Adrian J. Smith has been publishing since 2013 but has been writing nearly her entire life. With a focus on women loving women fiction, AJ jumps genres from action-packed police procedurals to the seedier life of vampires and witches to sweet romances with a May-December twist. She loves writing and reading about women in the midst of the ordinariness of life. Two of her novels, For by Grace and Memoir in the Making, received honorable mentions with the Rainbow Awards.

AJ currently lives in Cheyenne, WY, although she moves often and has lived all over the United States. She loves to travel to different countries and places. She currently plays the roles of author, wife, and mother to two rambunctious kids, occasional handy-woman. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog.

Reviews

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

(rounded up from 2.4)

I think this is going to be my last Adrian J. Smith. Don't get me wrong, this is firmly in the "it's not you, it's me" camp because I'm sure people enjoy these books, it's just not for me, unfortunately.

This particular book felt way too long to me, possibly because there are a good 50 pages of sex scenes in great detail, but not a decent conversation like adults, which always frustrates me. I also felt like the whole thing was a bit of a tempest in a teapot since the complaints were 18 years ago and also taken back as false at the time so what's the big deal anyway nearly two decades later?

I also felt there was a lot going on, so this book lacked focus overall. There was a random setup for Greer and her book (I did not care about this since it seems so obvious that one person is whinging about needing a nanny for their employee and another is bemoaning recently losing their nannying gig, and it still takes most of the book for them to connect the dots). Additionally, the best friend is in love with the MC for a good thirty years came COMPLETELY out of left field and at the last moment for me and then we just fast forward to a resolution, which makes me wonder what the point of including it at all was? The whole mean girl subplot with Lauren and Rosie, and then Lauren wanting Kam back, was another random plot point that goes absolutely nowhere. It just feels like there are a lot of these sorts of unfocused little things tossed in that could have just been chopped to improve the pacing, because boy, did we not need this book to be as long as it ends up being. Don't even get me started on the getting married six months after starting dating properly?? There is U-haul and then there's this, which felt like a massive leap very suddenly after a lot of drama and not enough chill and stable relationship moments.

Anyway, I appreciate that this book is clearly not to my taste but others may enjoy it so I don't want to unfairly knock it but definitely my last from this author since thier work is clearly not quite what I'm interested in.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're into age gap, fauxmance with plenty of angst and a touch of mean girl drama, then this book is perfect for you! The complex, well-developed characters of Kameryn and Elia, with their layered history and backgrounds, really drew me in. Their rocky reunion gradually shifts into mutual understanding, and from there, things only get more intense. I loved how each new revelation deepened the understanding of their actions and emotions. The chemistry and steam that goes along with Kam and Elia’s developing relationship is smoking! The added drama from the ethics committee and those sharp mean girl moments brings even more tension to the story. This is a really interesting read and I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

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

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I LOVE this book! An age gap, fake romance, boss (younger head mistress) and teacher (of former student now headmistress) love story. There is a back story involving Elia (teacher) that Kam (headmistress) fights to clear up. Such a great, complicated,,compelling love story! Definitely 5 stars!!!

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Unpopmary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Megzz]

Won't be rating this as I barely started before I stopped. Some books you just don't click with. The writing needs work. It spells things out to much for the reader and doesn't feel organic.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of age gap romances and this is one of my new favorites. As with all of Adrian J. Smith's books, the characters are emotionally complex with room for growth and have real life problems to overcome. All the drama and angst along the way sprinkled with the right amount of humor makes this worth the read. It's well written and kept me completely engaged. I liked the pairing of Kam and Elia and hope to see more of them in the future along with a few of the secondary characters. This is the first in a new series and I can't wait to read what's to come next. If you like fake dating, age gap romances with drama and angst, I think you will enjoy this one.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Promises We Meant to Keep" is an intriguing book filled with various tropes, including fake relationships, dating your boss, and being in a romance with an older woman, as well as the experience of moving back to your hometown. It takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I truly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it.

I received an arc

[Vicky Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story that kept me engaged throughout. There's emotion and spice and a fun mix of characters - I enjoyed reading this one.
Huge thanks to the author for the arc ebook.

[Aunt Missa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m having such a hard time reviewing this book. The writing is good and I know the story line is intentional and well thought out. I respect the author very much. I liked the book and didn’t like the book. I am gonna have to think on this a bit more.

[Heat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Cam Bautista · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this one! It was fun, sexy, and unexpectedly tackled a very serious topic from a different angle. I appreciated the author's exploration of the emotional, mental, financial, and social impacts of accusations, especially for those who work with young people. I will say that I found the antagonists to be weak and a bit cartoonish because they were simply too one-dimensional as characters. I can't believe that they would do the things they did because of some need for petty revenge. Which brings me to other characters who helped out the protagonists at a crucial moment - these characters were barely in the book but ended up putting their careers on the line to help someone who has consistently been described and acted icy and standoffish. Anyway, I still liked this, and I'm looking forward to reading through the rest of the books in this series.

[Kaidee McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so full! Full of surprises, full of angst, full of romance, full of frustration, full of spice! The push and pull of the intense chemistry between Kamryn and Elia when mixed with their age gap and boss/subordinate relationship made for some amazing dynamics that just spiced up all of their interactions.

Dr. Kamryn Ogden returns to the school she graduated from, now as temporary Head of School, unaware that she is returning to a school in turmoil. She's also recovering from yet another breakup from her girlfriend, Lauren.

Dr. Elia Sharpe is bitter after seeing her former student come out of nowhere to swoop in to take a job that should have been hers. She's cold and closed off, after being hurt repeatedly for far too long.

When they are forced to work together, they both find the other attractive, but refuse to acknowledge it. But when a drunken kiss leads them to a fake dating arrangement, it may make it impossible to keep denying their growing attraction. Both women can think of too many reasons that a relationship is a bad idea, but they are also just so good for each other.

Will they be able to maneuver through all of the pitfalls of past traumas, current dangers, and unsure futures or will they be torn apart and lose it all?

[Jawairia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was heavier than what I was expecting but I think it was explored quite well. It wasn't rushed and the subject matter in question wasn't used to increase the shock value.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, with a lot of past problems with coming to resolve. Quirky Characters.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elia is a teacher who gets one of her former pupils as her new boss when Kam becomes the headteacher at the school she works at.
This isn’t a cosy soft read or hilarious like the set up suggests. Instead it’s a story with many layers that get peeled back to reveal who the MC’s are underneath their armour plating, worn after years of trauma and pain.
There’s angst, fake dating, mean girls, age gap and a story of resilience and love in this book. The supporting cast will no doubt be getting their stories told as the series progresses.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Suzi Vilkman (Hautaniemi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated, indeed

For the longest time, I wasn’t even sure I liked any of the characters in this book. They all appeared to have their own agendas and even the main couple didn’t see eye to eye at first. Years of mistrust and misunderstanding start to take their toll, and the whole school board seems to be in cahoots to get their supposed culprit out. In the end, the issues are resolved and the bad made to resign, so the main couple gets their happy ending. Thoughtprovoking, tough but rewarding read.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an emotionally intense read. It’s hard to describe the emotional journey that is this book without giving away any spoilers, but know that you will get emotional Drama and Trauma alongside an age-gap/ice queen/workplace romance - and some heat as well. Would definitely recommend setting aside a weekend or chunk of uninterrupted reading days so you can devour this book the way I did.

This is one of my favorite books that Adrian has written, and I’m excited that this universe will continue on in future books (thanks, Adrian for not leaving us wondering about that!).

I received an ARC of this book from the author.

[Cristina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Elia and Kam’s complicated love story. This story hit on many of my favorite tropes such as ice queen and age gap couples. The evolution of the relationship between the main characters love story was sweet and at times frustrating which speaks to many real life situations. There were many secondary characters within the book that are interesting enough that I would like to see a spin off written of them in the future…we already know Greer is getting her own which from the cover I can’t wait to read but I would also love to see where Abigail and perhaps even Lauren or Rosie goes from here as well. So much potential for additional material…Adrian never disappoints with her characters and story lines…and of course the spice is always on point. 10/10 would definitely recommend!!

[Angela Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this for ARC and I really loved this book. Adrian Smith is one of my favorite authors. The fake relationship that Kam and Elia had together meant to be. It leaded them to fall in love.

[Trippentigger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the way this author tells a story, opening windows into her character’s lives for us. Amazingly easy to read even when you want to Gibbs smack a MC or two on occasion. It’ll will be interesting to see where these two pop up in the future books.

[KayLynn Zollinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I was so excited for this book, but it was underwhelming. The story idea was fine, an age gap romance between a teacher and her former student. It had potential. But words and phrases were repeated. A lot. Like please stop using the words "exactly how they both wanted it" or something similar. And the sex scenes were so boring. I'm not sure the author knows anything about lesbian sex. (Or if she does, it's very vanilla, which is totally fine, you do you honey, but for slutty literature you HAVE to flavor it up.)
Will not be continuing this series or reading more from this author.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the most part. There were a few things that I disliked greatly about it though. Elia was accused of sexually harassing a student almost twenty years ago. She didn't of course. As a teacher though, I did not like that being used as a plot device, and I really didn't like perpetuating the myth about false accusations. It hurts the real victims out there. I also don't understand how something that was proven as faked that long ago would be anything that could logically be brought up and be an actual threat to someone's job. It makes no sense. The thing with Abigail came out of left field just to get kind of swept immediately under the rug felt wrong as well.

The romance between the two was great. I enjoyed watching Elia melt for Kamryn. She came alive in ways she apparently hadn't in almost twenty years. And Elia seemed to keep Kamryn on a somewhat even keel. They didn't seem to actually fake date for very long before it became real.

There wasn't technically a third act breakup. They were on again, off again from about the halfway point to the last third of the book. Abigail and her advice to Elia sucked, and looking back might have been biased. Partway through the book I thought that for once, a romance was going to make its characters make a tough decision that made logical sense. Someone was going to have to sacrifice something to make things work. It got me so excited for this new phenomenon only to be let down when that isn't allowed to happen and everything just seems to come together and work out. Just like always.

[Stuffl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

It's a nice age gap romance set in a school with a touch of fake dating. It's about Kamryn who becomes the new head of school at her old school. There she meets her former English teacher Elia and conflicts quickly arise. But things aren't going well for Kamryn in her private life either. Elia, of all people, helps her out and they enter into a kind of fake dating arrangement.

I have to admit that I struggled with the storyline. Maybe it's because I don't know the American school system well enough and I couldn't understand some of the events in the book or found them exaggerated. I also had problems warming up to the two main characters. Elia and Kam had chemistry, but I missed the sparks. Their story just didn't really captivate me. I like Adrian's writing style and have read a few books by her that I liked much better.

[M the avid reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get your money's worth in angst, drama, steamy heat and romance here

If you like ice queens that are next level, age gap romances, and heated workplace politics in an academic setting, this one's worth a read. Main characters Elia and Kamryn have some serious verbal jousting going on and power plays at work with jealousy and secrets bubbling under the surface. I liked both main characters although some of Kamryn's lapses in judgment and questionable behavior took a little more time to understand and sympathize with. There's plenty of tension and angst and drama throughout the story with the odd moments of humor or levity that are much needed to take the edge off. When Kam and Elia verbally spar their chemistry is pretty spicy but when they start to get along, well that brings tons more heat to the page; they have several steamy scenes that are best read in private. Secondary characters are a good mix of likable and a few very unlikable, some of the latter being mean girls who never outgrew pettiness and others who lack good judgment when it comes to boundaries and reading a room accurately. I guessed at some of the secrets being kept before they were revealed but did not anticipate all of their elements and complexities so I was still able to be surprised when all of it came to light in the story. At least one of the secondary characters here will be a main character in a subsequent story so the end of the book blends introducing her situation further while wrapping up Kam and Elia's story. I appreciate the body positivity and complex characters in Adrian J Smith's writing as well as the complicated situations those characters are thrown into; consent is also a major theme. There are no quick easy fixes for the characters here or in Smith's other books that I've read, so prepare for a long bumpy ride that's drama and angst heavy but eventually and ultimately has a more positive payoff for readers and the characters by the end. This is the first in a series, however it works well as a standalone story. I recommend this book for those who like messy and complicated circumstances for the characters, who prefer imperfect and relatable (not always in the most flattering ways) characters, and want angst and drama in their romance. I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it's published.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thoughtful, Angsty and Engaging Romance

Adrian J. Smith's Promises We Meant to Keep offers a compelling exploration of love, trust, and redemption. The novel centers on Elia Sharpe, a seasoned teacher burdened by a decades-old accusation, and Kamryn Ogden, her former student turned temporary Head of School. Their paths cross again, leading to a fake dating arrangement that gradually uncovers deep-seated emotions and unresolved tensions.

Smith masterfully weaves together themes of age-gap romance, workplace dynamics, and the complexities of past traumas. The characters are richly developed, with Elia's guarded demeanor contrasting Kamryn's determination to prove herself. Their interactions are filled with palpable tension, witty banter, and moments of vulnerability that make their evolving relationship believable and engaging.

The narrative delves into serious topics, including the lingering effects of false accusations and the challenges of navigating professional boundaries. While the plot occasionally leans heavily on familiar tropes, such as the "ice queen" and "fake relationship," Smith adds depth by addressing the characters' personal growth and the importance of confronting one's past.

The supporting cast adds layers to the story, with colleagues and friends influencing the protagonists' journey. However, some subplots could have been more fleshed out to enhance the overall narrative.

In summary, Promises We Meant to Keep is a heartfelt and nuanced romance that balances emotional depth with engaging storytelling. Fans of slow-burn sapphic romances with complex characters and a tad of angst will find much to appreciate in this novel.

[This · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I really did.
Kamryn is the new temporary Head of School of her old school. There are still some staff there who had taught her.
Elia is one of those teachers - she had taught Kamryn.
Are there going to be problems?
At a local event Kamryn is a little drunk, her ex is there so she kissed Elia pretending she was her girlfriend. Elia volunteers to be her fake girlfriend for the soon to be local wedding of Kamryn's friend.

Now this is where I had to suspend my belief.
A new, nervous head of school went to a local event in the community, was drunk in public at this event and then without consent kissed a subordinate member of staff who used to teach her and asked her to play along and pretend to be her girlfriend?!
Once I accepted that the rest came together nicely.

There was of course a lot of other school business happening, ethics committee issues, friendship issues etc.
There is of course an epilogue.
Another wedding to round off the story.

This is actually a good age gap relationship where the power has been subverted as the younger woman is the boss with all the power career wise. Add in fake dating and you just know it will all come good in the end.

[Lindsey Wallace-Galli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrian J. Smith does it again with her creative story plots and heart wrenching topics.

Fake-dating is one of my favorite tropes and when Elia is caught off guard and a school event when none other than her former student-turned substitute head of school, Kamryn, kisses her out of nowhere. The fake-dating story lines starts when Kamryn makes her ex-girlfriend see that she is in a happy relationship.

Elia has been closed off for the last 18 years because of a scandal that caused her to be on probation and on review at the school she's been working at. Elia doesn't want any conflict with any of the school staff and doesn't have many friends except for Abigail.

When her former student Kamryn, is the new head of school and ultimately her boss, Elia gets even more closed up on herself when she realizes the school board didn't pick her for that position. And she knows exactly why that didn't happen.

Will this fake-dating relationship turn into a real relationship, or will it all crash and burn like Elia's life/career did 18 years ago.

Promises We Meant to Keep is haunting in the homophobic way but thought-provoking and insightful. Adrian J Smith always keeps the reader on their toes and makes you think of what's right and wrong.

[Erin F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story telling throughout. Kam and Elia are complex characters. While Kam is a bit more open than Elia, her years long on/off relationship with her high school love has left scars. Elia hides herself away from everyone focused only on teaching her students. As Kam becomes the new Head of School, she buts heads with Elia who prefers to go at things solo. As Elia's former student, Kam tries to reconcile who Elia was then with who she is now. Elia wants to be Head of School but knows she'll never be given the opportunity due to a past event that still lurks around the corner. As both Kam and Elia get to know each other in a professional and personal manner, their fears and secrets may be more than they can overcome. There are several characters with each MC's supportive best friends, a troupe of "mean girls", and a watchful co-worker hoping to help end the stigma following Elia.

Ice Queen, age gap, and fake relationship are some of my faves and you have them all in this story that keeps you engaged, even when you find yourself on the fence about a character or two.

[zagzig · Rating 3 out of 5]

if I had a nickel for every sapphic romcom I've read in the past couple of weeks about teachers dating their former students turned colleagues but nothing inappropriate happened in school I swear, something something it's weird it happened twice

I had real trouble with this one, insofar as you can claim to have trouble with a book you finish in one three hour session. it just felt like nobody in this book was behaving like people, or at least people you'd want to be around. Kamryn is melting down because her ex-girlfriend's current squeeze is very publicly starting shit with her so she drunkenly kisses her employee, and girl you are nearly 40 the other lady is probably also nearly 40 your employee is nearly 50 you are all too old for this

and this isn't even starting to get into the Elia drama side of things because oh my god. I mean yes, I kept reading because I had to see how that shitshow ended, but fuck

I will probably still be reading the next book. maybe. I said I was going to read all the gay smut on Kindle Unlimited and I meant it, maybe this one was just a miss for me