See You at the Summit

by Jordyn Taylor

For fans of Alison Cochrun and Abby Jimenez, a heartfelt and sexy romantic comedy following one bi woman’s messy journey through coming out—and reluctantly falling for a straight man. From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Wicked Darlings .

Girl comes out as bi. Girl falls for a straight guy.

Simone Whittaker has spent the first three decades of her life pretending to be straight. But when the girl she never dared call her girlfriend walks away, she decides she’s done living in fear. Her uptight parents don’t take the news well, but a viral coming-out post and a new job at Toronto’s Rainbow Museum offer a fresh start—and a crash course in queer adulthood.

That is, until her first day of work, when Simone ruins a project designed by Ryan Foley—the museum’s gruff and annoyingly hot carpenter—earning her the top spot on his enemies list. When they’re forced to take a work trip to the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival together, Simone vows not to let a grumpy straight guy ruin her first Pride. But Ryan keeps surprising her—thoughtful, vulnerable, and impossible to ignore. As sparks fly on chairlifts and by crackling fires, one snowstorm—and one bed—changes everything.

Back in Toronto, however, reality sets in. Dating a guy—and being mistaken for straight—weren’t exactly part of Simone’s coming-out plan. As the pressure builds between the identity she’s just beginning to explore and the relationship that wasn’t supposed to happen, she starts to wonder: What if claiming one part of herself means erasing the other?

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction, Queer, Contemporary Romance, Canada

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

Jordyn Taylor is a New York City–based writer and journalist, currently the deputy editor at Men’s Health magazine; her work has appeared in the New York Observer, Mic, and Glamour.com.

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 / 5 Stars
I enjoyed this! It had messy and chaotic moments but overall it was a quick, engaging, fun read. Simone has spent forever pretending that she is straight, but she is finally ready to claim her bisexuality with a new job at an LGBTQ+ museum and a post announcing it online. Her first day is marred with her parents not accepting her identity and her destroying a museum piece, making an enemy of the hot carpenter. When she and said hot carpenter are sent to Whistler for a work event, she learns that Ryan is actually smart, kind, vulnerable, and going through a bit of a hard time himself. But falling for a straight man is not in the game plan. She wants her queer love story dammit! And being mistaken for straight feels complicated and hard. As their feelings for each other grow, so do the complications.

You will probably like this book if you like:
✨ The journey of coming out later in life
✨ Exploration of what it means to be bisexual in a straight passing relationship
✨ Dislike to love
✨ He falls first and harder
✨ Oops, there’s only one bed
✨ Found family

I really enjoyed Simone as the protagonist. She was messy and unsure of herself but also strong and figuring things out. I LOVE a messy character when they have a solid core (like they aren’t just chaotic for plot but their messiness is rooted in life circumstances or their upbringing or really just has a good explanation) and they have a good heart and Simone was exactly that. Her journey of coming out later in life and navigating what that meant for her and her feeling like she is “playing queer” really tugged at my heart. And I loved her newly found queer family.

Her relationship with Ryan was really interesting because there were times where they each were kind of unlikeable and their argument got kind of ugly but I think that was true to their insecurities and their characters so I actually appreciated that. Ryan could have been written as this perfect man with no flaws and I appreciated that he wasn’t – he had his own shit to deal with. Don’t get me wrong, he was super charming and really likeable but he was flawed just as much as Simone and I really appreciated that. I felt like the chemistry between them could have been written without the gimmick of “oh, he’ll be her wingman for her queer journey so let’s have them practice flirting together.” That made it feel a little forced and made me buy into their relationship less.

My biggest issue with coworker romances is that my brain just keeps screaming “THIS IS AN HR NIGHTMARE” the whole time (can you tell that I am a rule follower? LOL) and neither one of them seemed concerned with the work repercussions which was so confusing. Well, turns out that Ryan is a contractor so keep that in mind as you read so you are less stressed out than I am when they first start getting together.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: January 27, 2025

CW: homophobia, biphobia, suicidal ideation
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I have been looking forward to this one for a while. The tagline "Girl comes out as bi. Girl falls for a straight guy" is beyond intriguing and you are telling me said man is a grumpy but thoughtful and vulnerable carpenter? Ok cool, I'll just explode over here.

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmmmmmmm idk how I feel about either of them. They both needed therapy before getting into a relationship fr

3.5-3.75/5?

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh dear sweet Simone I just wanted to hug this girl. This is bi-erasure-internalized biphobia-rampant biphobia even within the LGBTQ community and finally to acceptance. It is a big journey and it is JUST the story the community needs!!! Simone is a people-pleaser, insecure, but with a huge longing to finally, finally stand up and be true to herself. She always identified as straight due to heteronormativity but has a few months long relationship with a woman from work, Bree. After 2 months, she still has a hard time describing herself as queer, and EVEN THEN thinks she is straight. First time I just wanted to give her a hug. People have such a hard time understanding how people could have a hard time understanding their own sexuality.

She comes out online and her parents respond with a really "light" homophobic reaction. Then she falls in love with a man, Ryan, a carpenter. The sex scenes are spicy. But then her insecurity and people pleasing turn up to an 11 out of 10. Now she doesn't feel queer enough, she feels like she doesn't belong to any community. Again, I just wanted to give her a big hug!

This book fits into representation that I have been looking for a long time- that homophobia and biphobia is a spectrum and can be super harmful even when well intentioned. This is one of the best descriptions of homophobia within the community I have ever read. The best part is finding her bisexual elder and getting good mentoring from him. This part- chapter 23- just moved me to tears!

Thank you to Gallery Books for sending me this ARC, this excellent book is out now, one of my favorite romances of 2026 for sure!

[Marilyn La Jeunesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book that accurately portrays what it's like to live as a bi woman dating a straight man. Not only is this a wholesome romance with a healthy amount of spice, it also manages to touch upon biphobia and bi-erasure in the LGBTQ+ community in an authentic and poignant manner.

[Isabel Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when authors aren't afraid to let their characters be messy, and this book was a masterclass in characters being allowed to be messy, real, imperfect humans. Simone's journey of coming out as bisexual, figuring out what that identity means for her, and struggling with how who she dates impacts how people see her (and how challenging that can be even when you *are* secure in your identity) is so relatable.

Highly recommend for all romance lovers, but especially those of us with complex feelings of where we fit into our queer community as bisexuals.

Also - no spoilers - but a secondary shout out for the ways the book tackles the frustrating reality of discrimination and misogyny within the queer community.

[Courtney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank Gallery Books for my #gifted arc of this beautiful romcom.

There is so much to love about this story, and its message and themes are SO important.

Simone comes out as bi later in life after not having many experiences with women. She starts a new job at a queer museum and is fully ready to embrace her newfound identity with pride. Then she’s sent on a work trip to a Whistler Pride ski event… and finds herself falling for a straight man. Not quite what she had in mind. That said, the banter between Simone and Ryan is everything, and their chemistry genuinely can’t be denied.

This story is messy, messy, messy, which felt incredibly authentic to a late-in-life (or honestly, any-time-in-life) coming-out story. While I never love a third-act breakup, I do think it served a real purpose here, so I’ll allow it.

More than anything, though, this book just felt important. Simone’s feelings of not being “straight enough” for the straight community and not being “queer enough” for the queer community—and the shame she feels for falling for a straight man—were so raw and real. Bi-erasure is real, and it comes from both sides, and this story doesn’t shy away from that truth.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best bisexual romances I've read in a while!! I loved Canadian author Jordyn Taylor's contemporary adult romance debut that focused on Simone, a newly out bisexual woman living in Toronto who starts working at a queer museum and has a meet-disaster with Ryan, a hot straight carpenter.

Simone struggles with what being out looks like for her and when she ends up falling for Ryan whether being in a relationship with a straight man makes her not queer enough. Wanting to maintain her queer identity but feeling like she doesn't quite belong to either community puts her in a tailspin. Not helping matters is her problematic mother and her pressure for Simone to conform.

With a great group of found family, queer friends and an elder queer mentor, Simone eventually learns to stand up for herself and fight for the love she wants. This had great mental health and therapy rep and I loved the journey both MCs went on. The Canadian settings were also a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the Whistler Pride festival skiing moments.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and physical copy in exchange for my honest review! Recommended for fans of authors like Alexandria Bellefleur or Rachel Runya Katz who also write romances with bisexual leads in M/F relationships.

CW: brief suicidal ideation, biphobia, homophobia, gaslighting, infidelity (in past, not main couple)

[Allie | booked.with.allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thank you @gallerybooks for the advanced copy!

What an absolute roller coaster of a book! After coming out as bi, Simone can’t help but fall for a straight guy. She doesn’t feel queer enough and finds herself struggling immensely with her identity as a bi woman.

It took me quite a while to get into this book. In the beginning, I feel like there was so much happening, but we were told rather than shown, which really bothered me. I struggled to feel any connection to the story or the characters, but I am glad that I pushed through. The latter 50% really picked up and I found myself fully immersed in the drama of Simone’s relationship and her job.

This story and all of the feelings Simone experienced throughout the book really tugged at my heartstrings. Seeing Simone lean on her close friends and rely on her community was really heartwarming to see. I also loved seeing her stand up for what she believed in and fight for what she needed.

All around, I’m really glad I read this one and, as a straight woman, I really appreciated this author’s insight into bi relationships and the struggle some experience with their identity.

[Flirting with Fiction💕 · Rating 4 out of 5]

See You At The Summit tells the story of Simone, a newly out bisexual trying to navigate what her life as a queer woman “should” look like. The contemporary romance features bisexual and queer rep, found family, and some well-loved tropes such as one bed, he falls first, and initial dislike to love.

I really appreciated how real this story was. The reality of being bisexual and struggling with feeling “valid” is incredibly real. I know first hand how difficult it can be to be in a seemingly straight relationship while still wanting to embrace the queer aspects of myself. There aren’t many books that explore these themes this way, so it was really cool to feel seen in this way while reading.

Simone and Ryan were both flawed characters who I was rooting for even when they were a bit insufferable. I’m a fan of character growth, so while I wasn’t 100% enthralled with the romance, their personal journeys hooked me.

The snowy Canadian setting was perfect for a winter read. This was a solid four stars! Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. This is my personal review.

[Sarahscurrentread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simone is going through a crisis. She just got dumped by a girl, because she swears she only likes boys. But does she?
As she starts a new job at an LBGTQ museum, she also accepts that she’s bisexual. As she starts to embrace her new identity and freedom, she meets a guy. A guy she really really likes. But she wants to try openly being with a woman.
This is a cute Canadian story of someone finding themselves and love.

[Valerie Lapointe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ kind of mix feelings for this one. Love the subjects that the book talk about, it's important and really good to get to understand this reality more but.... Simone frustated me so many times 😅 I loved Ryan he was such a good person ❤️‍🩹

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted copy of See You at the Summit by Jordyn Taylor 🩷💜💙

Simone comes out as bisexual. Starts a new job at the Rainbow Museum in Toronto. Then she falls for a straight guy 🙃🙃 As a fellow bisexual in a heterosexual relationship, I felt so seen throughout this entire book. Even as early as page 3!

"Queerness isn't about what you do, or who your friends are, or who you love. Queerness is who you are."

I'm so glad this book exists. Anyone who has struggled finding their place and where they belong, this book is for you. It's cute, it's spicy, it's validating, it calls out homophobia and bi-erasure and inclusion. I obviously just really love it and I wish I had enough money to buy it for every bisexual person who's ever felt they don't belong to any specific community.

See You at the Summit publishes 1/27/26!

[casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way i just wanted hug simone immediately from chapter one 🫂 while this had moments of laughter, this story really dives into the theme of bi erasure and simone’s journey of being a queer woman. this includes the pressure she feels from building her identity, celebrating her first pride, and a relationship that wasn’t supposed to happen. i really enjoyed her journey and the amount of support she gets 🫶🏻

simone has decided to come out as bisexual as she’s done living in fear and gets a new job at toronto’s rainbow museum. however, she ruins a project designed by the museum’s carpenter, ryan (who is quite grumpy and is straight). they are then forced to take a work trip to the pride and ski festival. she refuses to let him ruin her first pride but sparks soon fly.

tropes: nemesis to wingman to lovers, he falls first and harder, bisexual rep, snowed in, one bed, queer ski festival

🌲🌨️🎿🏳️‍🌈🖼️

[Marisa (marisalynnreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 stars rounded up

A huge thank you to @gallerybooks for the #gifted ARC.

🏳️‍🌈⛷️🐈🎤

"𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦."

Just coming out as bisexual in her late twenties, Simone is ready to finally embrace her queerness and finally date woman. That is until Ryan, a flannel wearing straight male, wrecks all her plans.

The way I JUMPED at the chance to get an ARC of this when @gallerybooks first talked about it. As a bisexual girlie in a straight, hetero-presenting relationship, I have never felt more seen.

I loved that the story’s sole focus was on Simone’s journey, not just the romance between her and Ryan. It touches on the challenges of coming out later in life, learning self acceptance, and tackling feeling like you don't belong, even in your own community.

Simones emotional struggles throughout the story are so real. Sadly, there is hate and judgement even in the LGBTQIA+ community towards bisexual woman in straight presenting relationships, and Jordyn captured that raw reality perfectly. Watching Simone learn to accept her queerness and embrace herself and who she loves was inspiring. Every little baby (and seasoned) bisexual who has felt struggles with coming out or with their sexuality needs to read this.

I do disagree with one thing though... Ain't No Mountain Bi Enough would have been the best punny title ever🤣

𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🏳️‍🌈stories about coming out later in life (bi FMC)
⛷️nemesis to wingman to lovers
🐈snowed in with one bed
🎤he loves taking care of her (in every way possible)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love loved this book! This book is for the baby gays (particularly bis) who have had to work through comp het society and family expectations. Others may not connect as well but as someone who came to terms with her queerness in her mid/late 20s with a similar family background and in a heteronormative looking relationship this could’ve been wrote for me specifically.

Other things I loved asides from the personal relatability was the Canadian content. It was worked in without being heavy handed, any reader of any country could read without it being foreign.

Another great thing was that every concern I had was addressed realistically. The fights fought and either blew up or resolved appropriately with work. The characters had real growth that they worked to obtain.

Honestly I only have great things to say about this book and am so thankful to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for letting me read this early copy and share my honest thought

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful romance exploring sexuality and identity in a fun and approachable story. I couldn’t put it down! Let’s be honest, I’ll read anything Jordyn writes, and her first adult romance novel did not disappoint!

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC :)

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast, entertaining read. Not really a rom-com, but more like the journey of someone coming out and finding herself. Simone was a little annoying. I liked Ryan's character better. A little spicy but nothing too hot. three stars instead of four because the chemistry between Simone and Ryan didn't really seem to be there.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher:

In theory, this premise should have wrecked me: a travel setting, a late in life bi awakening, a very queer workplace, and a lively queer cast. I do have this specific identity struggle, so this is a story I desperately wanted to love.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me at all. The writing isn’t excellent and very telling vs showing not to mention repetitive, especially around the protagonist’s insistence that she doesn’t want to date a man—something the book circles endlessly before landing exactly where you already know it’s going. Worse, it leans hard into a dynamic I actively dislike: he’s a rude man you don’t want her with, except surprise, he’s great actually! That’s everything I avoid in straight romance, and wrapping it in a queer narrative doesn’t make it feel more thoughtful or subversive.

What really frustrated me is that the book attempts to explore queerness within a straight passing relationship, but does so in a way that feels shallow and poorly articulated. I actually think straight readers could walk away with some pretty biphobic takeaways.

I pushed through about half before skimming the rest, hoping it would deepen or complicate its ideas, but it never quite got there. In the end, it combines things I dislike about straight romance with elements I love about queer stories, and executes neither well. This may work for someone else, but for me it was a frustrating miss.

[kate (austenattachment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book feels like a soul book. when it became available on netgalley for bisexual visibility day, my friend mary sent it to me, and i said “not this being my exact storyline”—i couldn’t have imagined how much i would connect with this book and our main character, simone.

listen, being bi is kinda weird, and can be extremely confusing at times, and is a part of myself that i still find new things to figure out about every single day. there’s a lot tied into coming out, both in what it changes and what it doesn’t, and jordyn did an absolutely amazing job of highlighting both of these experiences and these feelings. i got read like a book by the book i was reading. bookception!

coming out is freeing and beautiful and is also absolutely terrifying. it changes everything at the exact same time that it changes absolutely nothing. you’re still you—at your core, you’re the same human you’ve always known yourself to be, and you still struggle with the same things you’ve always struggled with, and you still enjoy the same things you’ve always enjoyed. it’s not some magic fix. you don’t immediately have everything figured out and everything is not fantastically perfect. and i really, really loved and appreciated that we got to experience that fact with simone. it was written so true to my own feelings. am i too queer or not queer enough? how do i fit into a community that i’ve felt a part of but have also felt isolated from because i didn’t know how to let myself in fully? do i fit anywhere? do i need to “look more queer”? what does queer look like? is there a right way to be queer? a wrong way?

this was such an amazing exploration of that. and i think the two things from this that i will keep in my heart going forward are—
1. people will love you for you, not in spite of you or outside of you. just for you, and you don’t have to change or fold or hide. you are inherently lovable. if they don’t love you for you, they’re not the one. (but you are, of course, still responsible for healing your own traumas, don’t forget that, babes; something that is also done very well in this book)
2. “queerness isn’t about what you do, or who your friends are, or who you love. queerness is who you are. which means that any relationship you’re in, simone, will be a queer relationship, because you’re queer.”

heck of an adult debut.

thank you so much to netgalley and gallery books for the opportunity to read an eARC and share my honest thoughts 🖤

[Shay's Shelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who doesn't read blurbs (yes, I realize this is entirely on me) I found the title and cover of this book incredibly misleading. I was expecting a skiing/snow boarding romance and that is not at all what this was. The trip to Whistler the MCs took together felt like a blip in the story as a whole.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and found that the scenario the FMC found herself in felt both very relatable for so many people, not just those discovering or owning their sexual identity for the first time, but anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong.

These characters were chaotically messy, which made them feel very real. But it also made them feel kind of annoying and immature? I remember repeatedly thinking to myself throughout the book, these two both desperately need therapy. But then in the end, they ended up getting therapy and correcting all the annoying behaviours.

I think this book did exactly what the author set out for it to do. It made the experience of finding one's identity incredibly relatable in a way that felt authentic and not all that comfortable, because it's not a comfortable experience. Which is why I have had such a difficult time deciding how to rate it. Because the first 75% of the book was annoying and repetitive (which I honestly believe was the entire point), but the last quarter fixed all the things that were driving me crazy. And while I didn't love a majority of it, it felt very real and like it accomplished what the author intended - so do I rate it based on how annoyed I was or out of respect of the author accomplishing their mission?

I also believe it's very real for someone to experience what these characters did at any point in one's life, but I think the reason it all felt kind of juvenile to me, is because so many of the feelings of not belonging and wasting time and opportunities, I personally experienced at a much younger age. So, it put me back into that middle/high school & college mentality that I have worked through and grown from which is the entire reason I felt discomfort at times while reading - I don't want to go back to that place and this book kind of forced me there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

See You at the Summit is the first book I’ve read by Canadian author Jordyn Taylor and it was a quick bingeable romance.

In essence, the story is about Simone who comes out as bisexual, only to immediately fall for a man. SYATS is relatively simple in synopsis/plot but full of lots of big feels, identity discovery, and mental health representation. I really enjoyed the representation of Simone being someone who doesn’t quite fit in anywhere and just never feeling like she’s enough.. she feels as though she’s not queer enough for the queer people, and not straight enough for the straight people, and I think the book has a really great response and overall message addressing that.

The book was a quick and unique read, and the only downfall for me is that the relationships lacked depth for me to feel really connected to them. Simone’s friendship with Lucy felt a little forced and not deep, and I found myself not connecting to Simone and Ryan as a couple and I didn’t feel that invested in their relationship by the end. Honestly didn’t really feel like they seemed in love or like they’d work out. Overall, it’s a great bisexual self-discovery representation, but lacked in the romance department for me.

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for the arc.

[Stephanie (read_with_steph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simone is both excited and terrified to begin what feels like the first day of her real life. At 29, she's publicly come out as bi and started a new job in marketing at the interactive Rainbow Museum. Of course, her first day on the job she manages to ruin a month of work, tick off a hot carpenter, and dodge calls from her mother. When she and angry hot carpenter Ryan are sent to Whistler for what will be Simone's first Pride Festival to advertise the museum, she is determined to mend fences and break down his grumpy exterior, and maybe pick up a few women, too. What she doesn't expect is to start falling for straight man, Ryan, when she feels like she should be exploring.

This book was both a cute rom com and an interesting exploration of bi erasure. Simone goes through a lot in this book, emotionally, so it's not all light and fluffy--though it doesn't veer into preachy. Every teachable moment is also integral to the plot in a way that feels--somewhat sadly--real. I wish it were a bit funnier (because, to be honest, the book's tagline is), and the title could be more descriptive, but it was an enjoyable read. I'd try something from this author again.

Thanks to Gallery Books for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. Simone was messy and chaotic in the best way possible and I feel in love with her immediately. The way that Jordan describes Simone’s experience both after immediately coming out and the following year felt so genuine and realistic. I felt like I was feeling what Simone was feeling. Not only was Simone relatable but so was every other character we met. I fell in love with each and every character introduced. I would love some more detail on glen and his past because I love that man. Ryan was a great character as well and I loved seeing how he evolved and grew as a person and healed from his past. I think he and Simone really balance each other out. As a fellow Torontonian I also loved how Toronto this book was, it’s always fun for me to see a book set in my city that uses the city as its own character and I felt like this book did that.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the plot of this book was fantastic. Simone's journey of coming out as bi and then immediately falling for a straight man was so emotional, messy, and complicated. The author wrote it so well and I could feel how conflicted Simone was as she struggled with her identity crisis. I also loved the community she found and the work she did on herself. Ryan was a top-tier MMC, supportive, kind and loving and willing to do anything for Simone. He had his own issues to sort through and I enjoyed his journey as well.

All that being said, I honestly did not like Simone at all. I thought she was mean to everyone in her life, and I really couldn't move past that. I could see her struggles but it felt like she used her conflicting emotions as an excuse to treat others badly and that just didn't sit right with me. So despite loving a lot of other aspects of the book, I gave this one a 3 star.

[Mélanie | melaniereads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶🌶🌶
📱 Kindle
Release: Jan. 27, 2026

Read if you like ✨️:
- coming out story
- bisexual FMC
- LGBTQ+ rep
- workplace romance
- dislike to love
- identity crisis
- only one bed
- grumpy x sunshine
- canadian setting

I enjoyed this! I feel like there were a lot of important issues discussed and handled with care, such as biphobia/bi-erasure and mental health, especially within the LGBTQ+ community.

Both Simone and Ryan were flawed and dealing with their own issues and past traumas. It made them both relatable and unlikable at times, which is to say they felt like real people. When they do get together, it feels almost doomed from the start: both characters clearly need to grow and heal before they can truly have a chance at happiness.

I really liked seeing their progress, and I definitely recommend this book! Also, I always enjoy a Canadian setting, and this was mostly set in Toronto, with a few chapters in Whistler, BC.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Brianna Higdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to get to read a book with such specific queer representation. I’m sure this book spoke to so many people needing it and it really had me in my feels as well. The identity difficulties that Simone goes through really hit me and I couldn’t help but feel for her throughout. As far as queer representation this book went above and beyond for me personally. I did like the writing as well and the storyline. The romance between Simone and Ryan I liked as well but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped with how great the rest of the book was. I sometimes have difficulty really feeling the connection with third person perspective so that may have played a part for me here. I still liked the book overall and give it a 3/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who’s looking for queer representation, one bed, and forced proximity romances.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! So much happened and it was a little chaotic but it was a good read! I thought the banter between Simone and Ryan was well done. I loved the found family aspect of the story. I also liked that a huge part of the story was Simone learning to stand up for herself! I would recommend this book if you like forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and he falls first!

Thank you Gallery for the advanced copy!

[Jess Svajgert · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 27, 2026

Spicy enemies to lovers one bed workplace romance. This was a fun one with great tension, yearning, and chemistry and a sexy MMC who is quite generous. There’s a lot of third act drama that I found immature and frustrating. Lots of chat about queer spaces and queer rep in this though—genuine and not performative.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It’s so rare to find such a spot on portrayal of bisexuality in a romance. And it was also fun and steamy! Highly recommend!

[Lou ♡]

This book was so slow… I had to DNF at around 34%…