Relationship Material: A fun and flirty no-strings sapphic romance

by Rachel Spangler

Relationship Material is a fun, flirty, and sexy sapphic romance about learning to love yourself enough to risk letting someone else in.

Robin Walker built her life on saying yes to adventure and no to commitment. As a therapist in Buffalo, she gives her heart freely to her clients and colleagues while keeping the rest of her relationships hot, light, fun, and strictly temporary. It's a system. It works.

Then Sawyer Stroud-Barton shows up—fresh from two years of wandering the globe somehow even more gorgeous and alluring than the stories Robin's heard. Binary-bending, magnetic, and impossible to resist, Sawyer has that rare presence that turns a room electric. And they're planning to stay…for now.

Based on an instant and undeniable attraction, the chemistry between Robin and Sawyer quickly turns reckless. A little thrill seeking, a lot of banter, and a no-strings attached physical connection leaves both of them rethinking all the rules. But a childhood spent under a microscope taught Sawyer to run away when things get too real, and Robin isn’t the kind of woman to wait around.

Now, the wild one who never risks her heart and the wanderer who's never truly stood still face something neither of them A shot at love.

“One of Relationship Material’s greatest triumphs is its treatment of Sawyer’s identity. Spangler tenderly and gracefully weaves their gender fluidity and nonbinary experience into the very fabric of the story.” — Women Using Words

"My holy goddess this was one of the most delightful books I've read this year, the perfect balance of hilarious, sexy, and hitting right to the feels of being seen...One of the most incredible and raw representations of a nonbinary character I've ever read." ~ Need Cohen, Sapphic Spec Fiction“From a dashing, globetrotting nonbinary lead who hits me right in the trans-experience feels to a spunky lesbian second lead… this is a fantastic stand-alone book.” — A. Philipson

“Spangler writes fights and misunderstandings with heartbreaking precision, but they put their characters’ hearts—and the readers’—back together by the end.” ~ JAIME GREEN, the New York Times Book Review

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Queer, LGBT

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2025

About the author

Rachel Spangler never set out to be an award winning author. She was just so poor and so easily bored during her college years that she had to come up with creative ways to entertain herself, and her first novel, Learning Curve, was born out of one such attempt. She was sincerely surprised when it was accepted for publication and even more shocked when it won the Golden Crown Literary Award for Debut Author. She also won a Goldie for her second novel, Trails Merge. Since writing is more fun than a real job, and so much cheaper than therapy, Rachel continued to type away, leading to the publication of The Long Way Home and LoveLife. She plans to continue writing as long as anyone anywhere will keep reading.

Rachel, and her partner, Susan, are raising their young son in Western New York. They spend winters skiing and their summers traveling and watching their beloved Cardinals. Regardless of the season, Rachel always makes time for a good romance, whether she's reading it, writing it, or living it.

Rachel can be found online at www.rachelspangler.com or on Facebook.

Reviews

[Lesbereading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this story was everything. So many layers, laughs, and lovable moments. I was feeling all of the emotions in the best ways. Sawyer’s the complete match for Robin, and finally learning about the mysterious Sawyer from the first book brought everything together. I really enjoyed Informed Consent but Relationship Material stole my heart. Love this friend group and how Rachel has brought them all to life. Counting down the days for Gillian’s story now.

Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Aunt Missa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is a tad misleading. Is it fun and flirty and no strings? Yes, but it’s so much more than that. I am much more of a plot centered reader and not usually drawn to character driven books. This one is completely character driven and it roped me in completely. I haven’t read the prequel, Informed Consent, for that reason. Informed Consent is also an age gap and those aren’t my general go- to either. But it definitely would have helped me in getting to know the secondary characters and the MC, Robin, before I jumped into this one.

Robin and Sawyer appear to be kindred spirits in their easy going approaches to life. They both crave adventure and spontaneity. Neither of them crave love. Robin chooses this and Sawyer doesn’t feel like she deserves it. Robin, as a therapist, is an amazing communicator and Sawyer dips out when things get complicated. Things absolutely get complicated and deep as they both think they are able to navigate their “relationship.” This book is so layered and sweet and heart wrenching and just wonderful.

Super, double extra credit for the wonderful non-binary representation that Rachel writes in this story. Rachel writes anger and arguing so well. It’s never mean or bitchy or misplaced. (Exception: Sawyer’s mom is a total bitch. Despite that fact, Rachel tries to get us to understand Maura a bit). Her spice writing is spot-on in this one and the yearning and pining isn’t over the top, it’s just perfect.

This isn’t on KU. It may be the best $10 I’ve spent on a book in a long time.

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say that I found the storyline to be truly excellent and thoroughly enjoyed it. All the characters in the book are exceptionally likeable and relatable, and I particularly appreciated the self-discovery, identity, and growth that Sawyer experiences throughout the book. The connection and friendships that all the characters share are also quite endearing.

Robin is absolutely hilarious; she made me laugh a lot in the first book of this series and continues to do so in this one. With her lively disposition and the things she says, she possesses such a captivating personality that one is immediately drawn to her. I found her character development to be quite touching, and I particularly appreciated her interactions with the other characters.

Sawyer was a also wonderful character; they brought out the best in all the other characters in the book, and I will always have a soft spot for them. Their development throughout the book is inspiring from learning who they are and what they want, to their relationship development with Robin was flawlessly executed.

I highly recommend it and am excited for the next book in this series. (I'm hoping for another 🤞)

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

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

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Robin in the first book. She was full of life, and I was curious to see who would be able to follow her in her crazy adventure. The attraction and chemistry is almost immediate, Robin and Sawyer being the perfect match, but Sawyer had such a long way to go. Their journey was really touching. They frustrated me so much at times, but I could only understand them at the same time. I wanted to strangle Maura through my Kindle. The therapist gang are both so comforting and felt like home. I still had a bit of trouble being invested with all the therapists' talk sometimes and wish the cover reflected more of Sawyer and Robin's crazy and full of life side, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Now it's time for Gillian to have some healing touch.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so smart. It’s full of interesting, elevated dialogue and self-evolving concepts to understand what fullness looks like for different people. I loved that. I especially loved Robin and her huge heart and no-fucks/all-the-fucks attitude. Sawyer also is a beautiful soul/work in progress. And they made so much sense together, but I was missing some chemistry. Though the steam was steaming in the bedroom, they felt more like friends to me. But I liked their story, and I loved that Brooke and Tegan were fully present in it. I’m really hoping for Gillian’s next!

Short summary: Robin is here for a good time, not a long time, which is great because Sawyer’s the same…until they accidentally catch feelings - but can they stick around?

Thank you to the author. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read Informed Consent (I'll have to) especially if (as I read reviews) it is as fabulous as Relationship Material! A FAVORITE! I LOVE this book! Both Robin and Sawyer are fun loving risk takers, except for their hearts. Until they meet each other.
I found Sawyer to be a complex character, who's mother, though an expert and renowned therapist almost destroyed them. I highly recommend this book! Worthy of more than 5 stars!

[Avish Chaudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this one more than Informed Consent and I enjoyed that one quite a bit. Worthy of reread. Also, Robin is the best.

[Haley Bungay · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely perfect sequel to “Informed Consent” which I loved so much!

Relationship Material has us learning more about Robin, a member of Gillian, Brooke and Tegan’s practice. When Sawyer walks through the door of a bar, Robin is enamoured! What she doesn’t know is that Sawyer has been gone from Gillian & Brooke’s life for two years and a lot has changed for them.

Both Robin & Sawyer are fly by the seat of your pants, all adventure types and their attraction is immediate. What starts as a friends with benefits situation, quickly rolls into something by much deeper for them both. As Sawyer grapples with learning about themselves and what they’ve missed, Robin is learning that love may not be something she’s always dismissed.

This is a story of self-discovery, found family and love. It’s absolutely perfect!

[Shula McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isn’t it strange what we hide from ourselves?

There’s just so much to love about this book. If you read Informed Consent then you were already halfway in love with Robin, and incredibly curious about Sawyer. And after reading Relationship Material it’s impossible not to be in love with Robin. She doesn’t appear to have any fear, she’s all go, and no rules. Except below the surface sits a lot of fear over relationships, or anyone having power over her. She has rules about falling in love that she doesn’t seem to be aware with (in fact the discussion about how love feels in this story was just spot on).

Sawyer is such a fascinating character. I haven’t read a lot of stories with non binary characters so I felt like I was learning a lot about what it feels like to be non binary. I enjoyed how Sawyer and Robin both hide truths about themselves from themselves. Sawyer knows they run instead of dealing with their feelings, and hurting the ones they love. But they don’t want to admit how much Robin affects them. Their chemistry is obvious from the start, but you can also see feelings slip in very early on too.

I think Rachel Spangler write fantastic romances, with main characters, and side characters, who feel real. You can relate to them because you can see some of yourself in them. Relationship Material is no different, and I was so happy we got more time with Tegan, Brooke, and Gillian too.

[Women Using Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Spangler’s Relationship Material is, on its surface, a bright, flirty sapphic romance that promises steamy banter and reckless chemistry. However, beneath the heat, Spangler stitches together something deeper: a tender, fearless exploration of identity, vulnerability, and what it really means to be seen and understood. Spangler takes readers on a genuine journey, showing that relationships require more than love; they demand courage. Ultimately, Relationship Material reveals itself as a compassionate, deeply human story about the healing power of love and finding a home in one’s own imperfections.

At the center of this narrative is Sawyer Stroud-Barton, a fluid, nonbinary wanderer whose magnetism draws people in as easily as it deflects them. Opposite them is Robin Walker, a therapist who has built a life and career by giving pieces of her heart away in safe, carefully controlled doses. Neither expects their fleeting fun to become anything more than a short-lived, thrilling romp. Yet, through Spangler’s careful layering of laughter and poignant, quiet moments, what begins as a casual encounter slowly transforms into an emotional reckoning, leaving readers rooting for both of them to find true romance.

Sawyer is a standout protagonist. They’re the heartbeat of the story. Refreshingly flawed, cautiously guarded, and beautifully real, Spangler scripts Sawyer with genuine nuance and care, refusing to reduce them to a label or plot device. Sawyer’s sense of self pulses through every conversation, hesitation, and moment of longing. Readers understand how deeply Sawyer’s fear of being truly known runs. Through Robin’s open-hearted acceptance, Sawyer dares to believe they are worthy of love, both from others and themselves. They also realize they don’t have to hide or run; they can simply stand in one place and be.

Sawyer’s journey is not the typical romantic redemption arc. Spangler refuses to depict Sawyer as a problem to be fixed or Robin as a convenient savior. Instead, Spangler scripts a quieter, more complex truth: honest intimacy does not fix us, but holds a mirror to our most hidden corners. Robin’s warmth and openness do not save Sawyer but gently challenge them to stand still long enough to face what they’ve always outrun. In turn, Robin, just as wary of putting down roots, becomes a safe place for Sawyer to risk being fully known. Together, they show that true intimacy is not about fixing each other, but about the quiet valor of showing up, the bravery to be imperfect, and the trust that allows real, sometimes messy love to hold space for every flaw.

One of Relationship Material’s greatest triumphs is its treatment of Sawyer’s identity. Spangler tenderly and gracefully weaves their gender fluidity and nonbinary experience into the very fabric of the story. Here, identity is not a subplot, a social issue, or something awkwardly inserted into the romance; it is the romance. More than that, it becomes something beautiful. Spangler achieves this by capturing Sawyer’s fluidity through subtle glances and measured movements through a room. It’s depicted as something alive and evolving, shaped by fear, hope, desire, and resolve, rather than a hurdle to overcome and accept. Sawyer’s longing to be understood and accepted makes every moment of connection with Robin feel radical and necessary, ultimately making the storytelling shine.

The brilliance doesn’t stop there. Spangler masterfully crafts impactful scenes throughout this love story. There is undeniable pleasure in Sawyer and Robin’s heat: the reckless hookups and saucy banter crackle with energy and tension. But Spangler’s real strength lies in balancing this fire with moments of raw, uncomfortable honesty. The scenes that linger are not just those lit by lust, but the quiet, awkward moments where Sawyer’s armor cracks and true intimacy begins. Spangler handles conflict deftly, writing misunderstandings and retreats with unflinching honesty, never cheapening the ways old wounds resurface when love draws near. The fights sting, but never feel manipulative; instead, they become the painful but necessary cost of growth. In Spangler’s hands, passion is not only thrilling but grounded in the terrifying, tender decision to stop hiding and be exposed. When Sawyer and Robin choose each other, readers understand exactly what it means and why it matters so deeply.

Final remarks…

One of Spangler’s greatest strengths is writing characters who don’t have it all figured out. Where some romances might gloss over gender fluidity or treat it as a hurdle, Spangler doesn’t—choosing instead to embrace the complexity. In doing so, Spangler writes Sawyer with deep respect for their complexity, giving them room to wrestle with the parts of themselves they’ve hidden behind wanderlust and charm. With a masterful blend of wit, heat, and fearless emotional honesty, Spangler underscores the sexy, sharp, and surprisingly profound aspects of true intimacy. In the end, Relationship Material is a gentle reminder that being fully seen is among the most affirming gifts one can receive, and Spangler delivers it with commendable grace and courage.

Strengths…

Well-developed, likable characters
Masterfully told
Fun and flirty, yet emotionally honesty
Moving themes
Impactive and memorable

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian FMC, Nonbinary/Genderfluid MC, Queer SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Flirty Banter, Found Family, No Strings Attached, Thrill Seeking, Learning to Love Yourself, Overcoming Trauma, They Don’t Know They’re Dating, Family Relationships

“I see you.” Three small words that hold mountains of meaning. That scene broke me and stitched me together and broke me again. Much like this story as a whole. But in the end my heart was full and intact.

This was a beautifully honest and raw story about love, identity, relationships, trauma, and belonging. The way Rachel wove together some pretty intense topics and themes with a perfect balance of humor and spice was truly incredible. Sawyer has A LOT going on and a lot they are working through. They have a lot of triggers and a very strong flight response. Those aren’t things you just get over in the blink of an eye. I know from experience. And while there were times I got very frustrated with them for their actions - I also understood them. And I appreciate that Rachel let them stay true to themself throughout the story, messy as they were. It made the connection with Robin that much more powerful and real. Because Robin saw them. All of them. The defined parts and the undefined parts. The fluid parts and the unknown parts. The fearful parts and the fearless parts. The scars and triggers and mess and beauty that make up the whole of who they are. And I love that Sawyer isn’t miraculously different at the end of the story. The only difference is in how they’re beginning to see themself. Robin doesn’t save Sawyer. She just sees them. All of them. Even the parts they never meant to show her.

The chemistry between Robin and Sawyer was palpable from the start in multiple ways. The wild child and the wanderer. Kindred spirits who like to live in the moment and make the most of things, who love adventure and spontaneity and don’t take life too seriously. They are both flirty and fun and thoroughly enjoy being single. They are also instantly drawn to the other - physically and otherwise. The banter between these two was top notch, especially when they were ganging up on the more “reserved” members of their friend group. I knew these two were either going to be really good together or volatile. And it turns out it was actually a little of both. In the end it was the goodness that won out, but I think they had to go through those more explosive moments in order to get there.

I absolutely love the metaphor of the volcano that’s used. It validates a way of being in the world and processing our experiences that isn’t perfect and clean and tidy. Because some of us, no matter how hard we try, will never be that. That metaphor is a reminder not to hold things in. It’s permission to just let ourselves explode, knowing that the people who matter can handle the heat. We can let our truth out, let our fear and anger and sadness and despair be witnessed. We can blow our tops and expose our innermost vulnerabilities. Because that’s how we create new ground and forge new paths and go places we’ve never been before.

Another thing I loved about this story was how Sawyer’s identity as nonbinary/genderfluid was captured and explored - from the intimate moments with Robin and Sawyer to the rewriting of narratives and everything in between. It’s difficult navigating a binary obsessed world when you exist outside of those binaries. Especially when your mother has consistently tried to force you inside them. It’s hard to live freely as yourself when you feel chained to others’ expectations. I loved all the subtle and not-so-subtle ways Sawyer’s people stood up for them and affirmed them and cared for the whole of them. Everyone deserves that.

I was very glad we got to see more of Brooke and Tegan and watch their relationship continue to blossom. And it was great seeing Tegan and Robin’s friendship grow, too. I love the dynamic between those two so much. ::high five::

I do wish we had gotten more of Robin’s backstory and a better understanding of exactly why it was so important for her to not let other people impact how she feels about herself. I don’t know if it all stemmed from being the outcast kid growing up or if there was more to it than that. I just don’t feel like we got quite as much of Robin’s backstory as we did of Sawyer’s. But I also know that Sawyer’s story was more central to the story arc so it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book.

This was a truly incredible story that will make you feel the whole range of emotions and hopefully heal your soul a bit in the process, too.

Note: This book is a follow-up to Informed Consent. Relationship Material picks up the story right where Informed Consent left off and I love that it was a direct continuation of the story. While you don’t have to read Informed Consent first and can read this as a standalone, I strongly suggest you read them in order because it will make this book even better! Also - I really hope we get Gillian’s story next!


⚠️TW/CW: sexual content, childhood trauma, panic attacks, misgendering, toxic relationship with parent

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to Informed Consent. I didn't love it quite as much, but it was still enjoyable and well-written. I just didn't find myself relating to either of the two mains, a crazy risk-taker (Robin) and a gender-fluid escape artist (Sawyer). Your mileage may vary.

It's a small quibble, but I also don't believe that there's as much carry-over as Spangler repeatedly emphasizes from therapists' professional work to their private lives. As in:

"The downside to being friends with a group of therapists: They were all entirely too comfortable sitting in the silences most mere mortals crumbled under."

I sense another sequel in the works, between Gillian (the head of the therapy practice) and a local waitress. We'll have to stay tuned.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sawyer has returned from two years travelling and reconnects with her friends, as well as meeting Robin Walker.

Robin is immediately interested in Sawyer, who's a old friend of her fellow therapists Brooke and Gillian. On the other hand Sawyer seems like a troublemaker, which is Robin's role in their group.

This book pretty much continues from their book 'Informed Consent' and while you don't have to read it, it helps.

Liking the characters, the romance etc etc. There was a really sudden argument between characters i didn't buy, but just the one bit.

Also, HOLY SHIT the one Mom is awful. Dang.

4 out of 5 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Relatable

If I had to rate this book in the first 1/3, I would have given it 4 stars. The journeys that both Robin and Sawyer take to find themselves squarely placed it in the 5 stars category, though.

As a 59-year-old-this-month, this book helped me realize some things about myself that are healthy to know.

[Michelle Lisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Relationship Material” is a great sequel to “Informed Consent”. What's nice about this story is that it's not a typical girl meets girl romance. This story shares some deep interpersonal discoveries for both Robin and Sawyer. We get to experience both Robin and Sawyer’s journey as they figure out for the first time that they have actually found love and are actually in a relationship. The saga doesn’t just end happily ever after. It ends with some very interesting potential new issues as well as some other issues I see that may still need to be resolved.

This book could be read as a standalone, but I am sure if you do you will want to go back and read “Informed Consent”. Great writing as always. When the Audio version comes out it will be fun to see how it will be narrated, since I already have a picture in my mind of how some of the sarcasm, humor and strife may sound.

[jules revel]

Thrilled to see more of Robin’s story unfolding.

[Coldwonderland]

I'm in the minority here, 40% DNF.
I don't know how to say this, these two are so vague in my imagination that I can't get invested in the story

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year's Informed Consent introduced us to Robin, co-worker to Brooke and Tegan. She had that quick wit and cool that I gravitate to and I was thrilled to see her get her own story. She was as wonderful as I expected, but what drew me into to the story was Sawyer. Sawyer is that rare character that you feel both attracted to and protective of. They left town two years ago having tired of their mother's inability to accept them as nonbinary.
Returning home brings back that fear of rejection, but also, the love and acceptance from friends like Brooke and Gillian and now, Tegan and Robin.
Although Robin elicits quite a few other feelings. What starts as a fun fling becomes more than either are prepared for and I loved every minute of it. Robin and Sawyer are each other's match in all the ways. Robin gives Sawyer the one thing they crave more than anything else, complete and total acceptance of them just as they are. There is such a beauty in being truly seen by someone who doesn't look for ways to change you or try to find flaws. I will revisit this book often just to connect with these characters again. We need them more than ever right now.
Spangler is such a talented writer and this series has become a favorite for how heartfelt and beautifully it is written.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great sequel to Informed Consent (if you haven't read IC, it's fab; what are you waiting for?), which ends with Sawyer's entrance. Sawyer is the absent presence in Informed Consent, and once we get to know them in Relationship Material, it becomes clear why: Charisma, emotional intelligence, empathy, self-awareness, and best of all, an on-going battle with an overbearing mother who happens to be mentor to some of our favorite psychologists! Spangler's writing is as hot and incisive here as always, with the added dimension of super-intelligent and sensitive characterization of Sawyer as non-binary. Highly recommend, especially if you've not read a novel with a non-binary character--the representation is generous and winning.