Where Trust Leads Us: A Sapphic Romance

by Katie Trapp

Two guarded hearts. One chance to heal.

Bette Cooper’s life went from upper-class comfort to rock bottom overnight. After twenty years of marriage, her wife left her for someone half her age, pushed her out of the business they built together, and, to add insult to injury, she had to move back in with her mother. Forced to rebuild her life, Bette takes the first steps toward starting over by accepting a job that she once would have thought was beneath her, causing her pride to take a hit. It doesn’t help that her new coworker is a woman made completely out of ice and unwelcoming.

Addiction counselor Kerrie Matthews is no stranger to burying her emotions. Maintaining her long-term sobriety and control is how she copes—keeping everything tightly managed so nothing spirals out of reach. When her twin brother with special needs faces a health setback, it frightens her into tightening her hold on things she can control around her. She channels all her energy into caring for him and immersing herself in her work, convinced that relying on others is a risk she can't afford. So when her boss assigns a new assistant to help, Kerrie meets the offer with guarded skepticism rather than gratitude, unwilling to trust someone else with the things she believes only she can handle, even at risk to her own health.

As these two women face new beginnings, one question can the unexpected connection between them help them heal, or will their past struggles and fears make it too difficult to trust again?

A midlife workplace romance where opposites attract and love begins with learning to trust again.

*Content warnings can be found on the author's website.

Genres: Romance, Adult, LGBT, Lesbian

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Katie Trapp is an indie author from a small town in southern Middle Tennessee who currently resides with her wife, two dogs, and two cats in Kentucky. In 2021, she published her debut novel, An Unexpected Partnership, and has been writing ever since.

Reviews

[Samantha Holder-Venter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with some deep issues in a way that makes you stop and think about your own life and your own fears and insecurities. I loved that it wasn’t the typical barely adult or even just over 30 romance that seems to be so popular now. It was a fantastic change of pace for me and I really enjoyed the story.

[Robin Clairvaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her marriage implodes, Bette takes a job at a substance abuse rehabilitation center and immediately clashes with the handsome but temperamental butch Kerrie, who is a counselor there. But working together and a growing mutual attraction soon help the two women see beyond each other’s facades. Is it enough to build lasting trust?

Where Trust Leads Us is a beautiful, mature, heartwarming, and occasionally heartbreaking sapphic romance. Bette and Kerrie are two flawed and relatable characters who, despite their differences, are impossibly endearing as a couple. The challenges they each face because of past heartaches and present stresses keep the story moving at a satisfying pace, as do their interactions with vivid side characters, especially Kerrie’s adorable twin brother Kenny and Bette’s wise-beyond-her-years daughter Zoe. There are some truly profound and emotionally intense moments, but they are ably balanced by touches of humor and a wholesome warmth that pervades the narrative throughout.

If you’re searching for a sapphic romance with authentic grownup characters, you can’t do better than Where Trust Leads Us.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Lots of emotions and feels. Older main characters. Body positivity. Humor. Healing. Trust. Love.

While Kerri and Bette were wonderful in all their beautifully messy glory, I have to say Kenny and Zoe stole the show when they were on page!

This story is well paced, relatable and you should definitely read it!!

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to the author, Katie Trapp, for the free ARC copy.
All thoughts/opinions in this review are my own.

✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Mature MCs (45+)
✨ Coworkers at a Rehab
✨ Plus-sized Butch MC

> micro-tropes and content warnings after review

I’ve read one other book by this author before (which I enjoyed), so I was excited to get into this one. It is the first romance I have read where both MCs are over the age of 45 (looking at you age gap romances... heh). I found it to be so refreshing and authentic. Not to mention one of the MCs, Kerrie, is a plus-sized butch woman. Dare I say the main characters felt like... normal people. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book quite like this one, and I would hazard that I won’t read another like it for a long while.

Aside from the main romance, this book tackled some difficult topics including addiction/rehab and being a caretaker for a disabled loved one, Kenny. The author has a background in working in the field of addiction and that comes through with how the book approaches rehab and addiction (which can be a challenging topic). One thing I that really struck home with me is that one of the MCs is an alcoholic who has been sober for 20 years, but is very consistent and open with how she is still in recovery and still an alcoholic. She still is wary about things that may make her backslide and is firm in her boundaries. While I do not have personal experience on this particular topic, it resonated with me as someone who has had disordered eating and who still has to be wary about thought processes and habits that could cause me to backslide (despite not actively having disordered eating for 10 year). It isn’t something that just goes away for most people, and I appreciated that the character’s alcoholism wasn’t described entirely in the past-tense.

Other topics were handled with a lot of care as well, including Kenny’s disability and the sexual intimacy shared between Kerrie and Bette. I found it to make for a really refreshing and enjoyable read that I didn’t want to put down. I would absolutely love to see more books like this in general, but especially by Katie Trapp as I felt like she handled the more challenging topics of this book with such love and care.

(beware potential spoilers below)

Micro-tropes:
✨ Evil ex-wife
✨ Evil-er (?) mother, maybe?
✨ Divorcée
✨ Mother to an Adult Daughter

Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
alcoholism/addiction/rehab, fat-shaming, cheating (past), divorce (past) health issues

[Raluca Matara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development: 👏
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

This is one book I'll never forget! It has laughs, it has love. The spice is just perfect. The side characters are made for my heart, the good and the bad ones 😂

Better is a forty-something divorced woman who finds herself almost broke and living with her mother, until she finds a job at a rehab center.

Enter Kerrie. Kerrie is one big grump of a woman. She's a rehab counselor and makes sure to let Bette know she's not needed in the rudest ways possible. But she actually hides the sweetest heart. She just might have some issues with giving up control.

Kerrie's kindness is only rivaled by her twin brother, Kenny, who was born with special needs.
Kenny is by far my favorite character in this book.

I absolutely loved immersing myself in the pages of this contemporary romance story. Five stars well deserved 💙
Thank you, Katie Trapp, for allowing me to delve into this beauty.

[Valinora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don‘t read books with butch women because I don‘t like stereotypes and the reproduction of heteronormative standards regarding relationships (one super masculine, the partner super feminine). But the blurb sounded cute and nice and so I decided to give it a chance and I didn‘t regret it. I really enjoyed reading it an went through it quickly. I woud have given 4 stars if there wasn‘t this one thing that really irritated me. But first the pros:

- the characters are middle aged
- they are “normal“ people and not celebrities or rich
- they have their flaws and don‘t have the unrealistic perfect bodies most characters of these books have
- the whole topic of rehabilitation and how it is portrayed in a positive way
- the interaction of the main characters with each other
- the authenticity of their feelings
- Kenny
- the healthy body positivity

Now the one thing that irritated me. Kerrie‘s illogical behaviour regarding her brother. I completely understand that she is concerned about him and about losing him, especially after his heart attack. She doesn‘t want him to go out without her, not even with Mabel because she is afraid that something could happen to him although mild exercise would have been good for his condition while only sitting in front of the TV is bad for him. What she doesn‘t consider is the fact that the one thing that harms him the most is Kerrie herself. She is literally slowly killing him by feeding him the most unhealthy food that probably already had caused his heart attack and might cause another or worse. They only eat fastfood containing tons of meat, fat and sugar. I‘m sure after his heart attack a doctor would have told Kerrie what food to prefer and what food to avoid so it doesen‘t make sense that she is so worried about his health while destroying it at the same time. I‘m someone who totally supports body positiviy as long as it‘s healthy (in Bette‘s case for example). But it can also be toxic when it harms the person‘s health (in Kerrie‘s and Kenny‘s case because their high amount of extra weight can cause serious health issues and will probably shorten their life span).

Despite that I really recommend this book.

[Fiona Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think one of the things I loved most about this book was the number of less commonly used elements, eg. characters in their 50s, not judgemental plus size representation and caring responsibilities for an adult family member. On top of this, Katie Trapp has been able to draw on her previous work experience in addiction counselling to provide a thorough, in-depth coverage of the issues associated with addiction. The result is a refreshing contemporary romance that I absolutely adored.

Alongside the two main characters who I adored, we also meet Kerrie’s adorable twin brother, Kenny, who has special needs, and it was wonderful to watch Kerrie’s journey as she tried to balance her work commitments at the rehabilitation centre, her caring responsibilities for Kenny and her fledgling relationship with Bette while also maintaining her 24-year sobriety. Outwardly she comes across as incredibly self-confident and in control but there is so much more to her that needs to be uncovered and she has a long journey to go in learning to let go of some of that control.

Meanwhile we get to see Bette’s journey following the end of her 20 year marriage to her narcissistic ex which leaves her at rock bottom financially and forced to live back with her controlling mother. I loved watching her emerge from her difficult living situation as she spent more time with Kerry and Kenny along with the support and encouragement of her daughter. Finally, she could see that she had people who were willing to stand up for her and support her needs instead of just walking all over her.

All in all, it was a beautiful story, and I loved every second of it. Full of all the emotions it takes you on a wonderful journey towards love and trust. This is not the first story from Katie Trap that I have read, and it certainly won’t be the last.

I am grateful to Katie Trapp for providing me with an ARC copy of this story and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up with a friend as we were both eager to read something and thought that a buddy read would help us do it. It did help and I'm not sure there could have been a better book for us to read.

This dual POV romance, is one that feels real. With Kerrie and Bette not being the typical age that a lot of romance stories are centered around, it proved to be a breath of fresh air. Everything about this read was so normal, and that is the highest compliment. The drama or struggles they had didn't feel manufactured. Kerrie and Bette were just two independent women who were trying to figure out the best way to mesh their lives together.

Where Trust Leads Us tackles a number of difficult topics. Addiction/rehab can be a hard topic to tackle, but it felt well done here. Talking about how even after being sober for 20 years, that it's still a process. She is still in recovery and still an alcoholic. Seeing this discussed and how wary she is about what could cause her to backslide. I did love how this was continually talked about as a constant thing and not something of the past.

There was enough room for discussions on being a caretaker to a disabled love one. It was also done so well and continued to help this book feel normal (this a high compliment, remember?).

Kerrie and Bette's relationship was beautiful. There was this softness to it as they navigated their feelings for one another and how to blend all of that. Their communication was also such a nice thing to watch and witness.

Overall, this is one of those stories that I really liked so I'm struggling to find the proper words to talk about why I enjoyed it. Where Trust Leads Us had this comfort to it and it was so nice seeing older characters as leads. I'm curious about Trapp's other works and will probably look into them to with hopes that I'll vibe as well as I did here.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a lot to unpack with this book. It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for contemporary romance, but I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything quite like this one.

The book does an incredible job to tackle addiction, offering a deep and nuanced exploration of the topic. In my opinion, the author's approach is unmatched. For comparison, Mae Martin’s Netflix show : "Feel Good" didn’t resonate with me as strongly, and that’s partly personal (given my own experiences with addiction) and partly professional (as a social worker).

Another aspect I really appreciated was that the main characters were in their fifties. It’s such a refreshing representation, even if touched a few times, it could have been explored more.

Talking about explored subject, Kerrie’s comfort in her own body was portrayed beautifully—it could have easily gone wrong, but instead, it was empowering. I also appreciated how Bette’s insecurities from her previous relationship were woven into the story.

Even Kenny, a pivotal character, was written with care. His limitations didn’t define him and the book doesn’t romanticize his condition—yes, he needs a caregiver, but he doesn’t feel like a burden. It brought me back to the debate in Canada about people with handicap deserving to live fulfilling existences. A topic that isn’t frequently touched this smoothly.

A side note: while sex (or smut) isn’t a major theme, I appreciated how the author handled it—acknowledging flaws and relatable issues in a way that was educative.

I discussed the book's strengths at length, but there were a few issues as well. Some mistakes were scattered throughout the pages, and there were a few moments that required me to reread sections. I consider these very minor and I’m truly impressed by the author. (I am French so small mistakes break my brain and be mindful I read an ARC copy which might be fully improved by release date.)

(An ARC copy of the book was provided which I’m fully grateful for , but the review is fully honest I truly enjoyed the book :) )

[Jae Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not think in a million years I am softening my love for the darkness. Yes, I read a Sapphic romance. Yes, I liked it.

Actually, no… I didn’t like it. I loved it.

While I prefer the darker side of romance, the synopsis of the Katie Trapp’s newest book spoke to me, not necessarily on a personal level but on a curious/writing one. The author marketed this book with realistic sex and a plus-size masc, who wasn’t ashamed of her large size. Those two items were enough for me to dive into the book so I could learn and see how these two topics are discussed.

Realistic sex seems to not happen that often in books because most readers want escapism. They want hot ladies, sensual sex, and mind blowing orgasm. Trust me, I want that in my life too. At the same time, I read books with those three things and roll my eyes because its too fake.

Trapp takes us to a world where characters are not young, in menopause, and are not the type of people who lust for in a way that doesn’t make them cringe-worthy. She makes them you and me, which makes them identifiable and we love them more for it.

The story is reality. We have flaws. But we are also humans that have laughable moments and Trapp gives those things to us a platter that might not be silver but it’s solid. And for that I give this book 5 stars.

So, why did I knock it down a smidge?

While I feel the attraction for these two main characters is real, I felt that the softening of the cranky butch and the office romance was rushed. When you have someone who doesn’t want this woman there and is set in her ways, it might take more than a few POV changes and chapters for her to “fall in love” and that is where I felt the story lacked.

Overall, the story is solid and a great rom-com. I laughed many times, and almost cried. Very recommended.

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Trust Leads is a sweet and wonderful book. It is not just another romance since it tackles issues of addiction, divorce, and caregiving. And these people are not in the blush of youth. They have plenty of lived experiences to create life habits. I loved our MC’s. Bette, who had been seeking comfort in status and possessions loses all that in a brutal divorce. She is climbing her way-out step by step and getting a job at a rehab facility is one of those steps. She comes to love it but must work through a lot of revulsion and discomfort first. Kerrie has been an addiction counselor for a long time. She guards her long-term sobriety. However, she is quietly drowning in overwork and stress between the job and caring for her special needs twin brother. Not willing to accept help is destroying her. Meanwhile they come together in surprise and delight. Such a great couple!
This romance is lovely. These are real people dealing with real issues and moving one day to the next just like the rest of us. It shows how beautiful life can be in the details of support like conversations over a fire pit or meals together. I really like how they persist in communicating even though it is impossibly difficult. The author ties all the pieces together in beautiful ways that stay completely realistic. I particularly like the found family with Kerrie’s brother and Bette’s daughter. It feels like a romance and lives that any of us could lead. Don’t miss this one.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC copy of Where Trust Leads Us by author Katie Trapp. Thank you Katie for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book.

Where Trust Leads Us is a contemporary sapphic romance between Bette Cooper and Kerrie Mathews. Bette Cooper is having to start all over again in life after her divorce from finding a new job to finding a place to live to get away from her meddling mother. Her journey from rock bottom is one of inspiration and I was cheering her on the whole way. Kerrie Mathews is Bette's new coworker, but she is a bit grumpy at having a new person there to help her as she is used to doing everything. There is some tension and a whole lot of pushing each others buttons before they eventually fall for each other. I was drawn into their story from the beginning and could not put it down.

I really enjoyed this book because both characters were perfectly imperfect, which made them so relatable. I found myself giggling at some parts and wanting to shake some sense into the characters in other scenes. Usually contemporary romance is not my first choice to read, but I've read another book of Katie Trapp and really enjoy her writing. Plus this one sounded interesting. I am so glad I did too. If you are looking for a good starting over storyline with some very relatable grumpy/sunshine characters this is the book.

[Lilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has become one of my favorite sapphic contemporary romances I’ve read in a while. I found myself laughing, crying, kicking my feet, and melting at the sweetness within this novel. Kerrie is a plus-sized teddy bear that has been a caregiver to everyone around her, and then along comes Bette. I love how these women are well into their fifties and are such characters, they know what they like. Bette was the assertive sweetheart that wanted Kerrie as she is, even after their less than ideal meeting at work. It was healing to see Bette work through her problems and stick with Kerrie for them to find a way through their vulnerability together. Not only that, but the way that each woman’s body was described in this novel made me feel so seen and like that’s how I deserve to talk about and see my own body. I look forward to building a life and love like Kerrie and Bette have with my wonderful partner, and I’m honored to have received an ARC copy of this.

I don’t want to share too much more in case of spoilers, but please give this a chance if you like sapphic butch/femme love, the shameless discussion of addiction recovery, and the healing nature of big bodies being discussed with love and admiration.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karrie Matthews cares for her brother Kenny while working at Turtle Grove Rehab Center. She does addiction counseling, primarily to male clients.

Bette Cooper and her daughter Zoe are dealing with Bette's lover dumping her, losing her business and starting over. Desperately needing a job, she applies at the Rehab Center.

Karrie does not want the help, but her manager sticks her with Bette. Worse, Bette overheard her talking about it, making things awkward, though Bette does stand up for herself.

As Bette settles into she and Karrie eventually start to get along, and Bette also finds herself attracted to her, despite her crankiness.

Two mild gripes:

At midway mark, scratching my head a bit at how casually Zoe is treating Bette's situation. The ex, Shelly, has left her with nothing... admittedly it's possible Bette hasn't told her, but it seems really weird.

Also, I'm not too informed on divorce law, but Bette having been married over twenty some years and getting almost nothing seems weird. Unless her ex got ger to sign a iron clad pre-nup, anyway. Or she just gave up and Bette mentions she took her to court, so....

Third act breakup... not as bad as some, at least. Good resolution, overall.

3.5 stars out of 5.

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully realistic romance about second chances in love and definitely not MC's with the perfect "Adonis" bodies we so often see in fictional stories.
I loved Bette and Kerrie and their dynamic.
They meet, and it's not love at first sight.
There's definitely lust, but frustration and overwork blind Kerrie in particular and she acts like a huge little a*hole at first.
Extremely amusing, because Bette doesn't take it!
She fights back and is determined to do what she wants.
Because of her recent divorce and the betrayal she endured, she doesn't want to let that happen to her again.
She wants to be respected, especially by the absolutely hot, tall, big, and masculine goddess who she would happily devour in a heartbeat!
Who would have thought she'd be into that? Considering what her Ex looks like...
Kerrie, nontheless, quickly became my favorite, because she has such a huge heart and cares so wonderfully for her brother Kenny.
Kenny is the best!
So, if you like romance with a slow build-up, super sweet supporting characters, and some rather prickly MCs with a touch of drama, this is the right place for you!
Thanks so much to Katie Trapp for a wonderfull sapphic romance and the ARC. This is my honest review!

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this romance with plus sized stubborn woman Kerrie and a heartbroken recent divorcee Bette. Kerrie is an experience counselor for substance abuse male patients, she has a special need twin brother who depends on her for everything. Bette is the newly hired office manager for the same mental health facility where Kerrie works. These two middle aged women have very little in common in the beginning, but as time goes by, they got closer and slowly fell in love. The characters are very real and very relatable, the story heartwarming and unique. Beauty comes in all kinds of size and shape and I admire the author's efforts to show us a heavy set butch woman who is so selfless and caring that she always puts other's interests before her own. The romance hits a bump at the last 15% of the book, the misunderstanding and the angst make the story more realistic and make the characters more relatable.

[Robin Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bette Cooper hits rock bottom after her divorce from a true life sucking bitch! Thankfully her daughter Zoe is there to push her to go on a job interview that Bette would rather stay in her depressive self and ignore. She meets with Tyler the boss of an outpatient rehabilitation center. He hires her and takes her for a tour of the campus. Bette meets the lead councilor at the “church”, Kerrie, a woman who is dedicated to her job to the point of being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and feels only she can do it. She wants no part in the training of Bette and the story takes off from there. Let’s just say this is a really good read. The emotional twists and turns along with the humor or great. The characters work well and are fully developed. The setting is interesting and I can see it in my mind.
I enjoyed the entire book, I found only one glaring editing error, where Kerrie’s brother is identified as sister. I do wholeheartedly recommend this book by Katie Trapp.

[Looby Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book that makes you think outside the box. Addiction it’s hold on people and how it ruins their lives, narcissistic ex’s who control rather than love their partner, and someone who has developmental problems.
They were all explored really well and it was obvious the author had first hand experience.
The characters, Kerrie and Bette were flawed but likeable, and although it took me a little bit of time to root for them, they were made for each other. Kenny stole the show though. I loved his character the most.
There was one bugbear and that was the way the larger character was described eg the way she walked and the floor creaking, having large thighs, but the other character didn’t have small thighs as her descriptive. I felt there was no need for these references. We get that she’s big. As a large person myself I got a bit annoyed but luckily the book mostly dropped these references after a few chapters and continued into becoming a really good story.

[Chus Lerma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC and it was my window to Katie Trapp books, amd I’m gratwful for that. As she says in the Aknowledgement of “A shot of her” (spoiler alert- YOU NEED TO READ IT AS WELL) she wants to represent real people who are rarely represented. And she does it beautifully! Kerrie and Bette are that! Regular people living at their best with the cards life had given them! They are mature character, which I love. Bette is starting over after a failed marriage, and she doesn’t have things easy! But she tries, and she survives and she moves on! Her journey was so real that I was hooked. Because it can happen to any of us It happened to so many people, but no book has described it the way Katie has. And it’s worth the time you’ll spend reading this book, because is nothing like the books we’re used in the sapphic romance community! And I’m 100% for the ride with any book Katie will write in the future.

[Erin F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a refreshingly different cast of characters. Both Bette and Kerrie are very likable, even during their struggles. This story tackles some difficult to broach topics but does so very well. Kerrie is quite comfortable in her own skin and with who she is. Used to judgement, she hasn’t let that stop her from being a warm, caring person (most of the time). It takes a bit of time for Bette to break through but when she does, it’s great to see their relationship blossom. Of course, insecurities get the best of Bette and Kerrie doesn’t handle the fallout well but both learn from it and accept responsibility for their actions and reactions. Kerrie’s twin Kenny and Bette’s daughter Zoe are great supporting characters and provide so much additional heart to this story. These mature characters truly embody that maturity in the best ways and their story is absolutely worth the read.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Trust Leads Us by Katie Trapp was an absolute joy to read, and I was honored to receive an ARC copy. It easily earned a spot on my list of all-time favorite books.

The story follows Kerrie, an addictions counselor, and her new co-worker, Bette, a newly divorced single mom of a teenager. Their first meeting? Not exactly warm and fuzzy. But it doesn’t take long for Bette to see past Kerrie’s tough exterior and appreciate everything that makes her who she is.

One of my favorite things about this book was the representation. The main characters are in their late 40s/early 50s, which you don’t see nearly enough of in romance. There’s also a fantastic representation of divorce, special needs siblings, family caregiving, addiction, mental health—and my personal favorite, a gorgeous plus-size butch lesbian portrayed with love and confidence.

This story was sweet, fun, and full of heart. By the time I reached the end, I found myself wishing for more. And that epilogue? I was cackling when the "kiddos" came home after apple picking—100 pounds of apples?! LOL.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think we might all need a Kerrie

Katie Trapp's books always manage to find the heart in any situation, but this may be her best couple yet. Kerrie is a love, a big teddy bear of a human being, and she just about worships Bette. Both of them are stubborn and not always logical, but the love that they both have is abundant, both for each other and for the people in their lives. The sex is realistic, but it doesn't make it any less hot, and the secondary characters will steal your heart too. A little birdie told me that there is a sequel in planning already, and I can't wait. These two are amazing together, and it makes my heart happy just to imagine that I might find that kind of love.

[Wes McGie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book filled with romance, body positivity, second chances, and family. I was also intrigued by the location at an addiction counseling center. It was interesting seeing how it operates, and it was very humanizing to the people being treated. I love how Bette melted Kerrie’s hardened heart. They truly love each other for who they are, size notwithstanding. As a large person myself, it was heartwarming. This book has wonderful side characters too. Zoe and Kerrie’s twin, Kenny, in particular. Zoe is so sweet to Kenny. If you are looking for a romance book with characters that feel real, then I recommend this book.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a roller coaster of emotions! I giggled, I cried, and I loved every second of this sweet Sapphic romance starring older characters (late 40s, early 50s)!

I love all of the characters. I love the treatment of mental health in this story. I adore Kerrie and Bette's growth separately and together, and all the side characters were so well done.

I know this is Katie's first full contemporary romance, but I hope it's not the last! I would love another Turtle Grove book!

Spice: 🌶🌶
CW: Alcoholism, exhaustion, toxic ex

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.

[BA · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a really, really long time since a book has made me stop and think about my own insecurities and faults. This book was really well done. I, much like Kerrie am a caregiver and a control freak. I greatly relate to her and understand how easy it is to slip under the surface and just get overwhelmed. Kate Trapp did an amazing job. Bette was also a breath of fresh air and being able to see her bloom after such hardships? Refreshing. I can’t forget about Kenny, he was perfect and is by far a favorite character. So innocent with a huge heart.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this book was so true to real life. The main characters are not model thin with fabulous corporate jobs and unlimited funds. It's refreshing to read a story about middle-aged women who work to live and maintain normal familial relationships. The main characters have depth and the secondary characters are also well developed. There's humor and plenty of emotion. This was simply a very well written, engaging story.

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

[Linda Slate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of very positive components: body positivity, mature characters, frank discussions about addiction and sobriety, real-life scenarios surrounding family interactions and relationships, caring and sensitive representation of someone with special needs, and realistic mid-heat spice. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this story as an ARC and am voluntarily offering this review.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to read. The main characters are well described and you can really feel what is going on. You get sucked into the story and want to know how it continues. The author takes you through the journey and development of both characters and how they it react with each other but also the influence they have on each other.
It is a story with a deeper message.
Would definitely suggest people to read it.

[Minishca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author expertly met the challenge of delivering two authentic main characters with whom the reader can identify. In addition, great writing not only drove the plot but also celebrated body positivity throughout the story. It was easy to picture the MCs grappling with their fears and flaws everyday which made me appreciate this book even more. I enjoyed it very much and recommend if you enjoy a departure from the typical script.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bette and Kerrie are such a sweet couple! I loved how realistic and heartfelt this book was. An older lesbian couple grappling with some serious life events in a believable way was wonderful to see.

Shout out to Kenny, the best twin brother out there. I loved seeing his relationships with Kerrie, Mabel, Bette, and Zoe.