The Forever Experiment

by Sarah A. Bailey

What happens in Vegas… might just lead to love. Will one night of passion turn into a lifetime of regret—or a second chance? Ten years after a steamy college hook-up that neither of them has forgotten, Easton Mason and Maya Atler cross paths at a corporate conference in Las Vegas. Easton, now a personal injury attorney, is still the charming, happy-go-lucky guy with great hands that Maya remembers from University. While she, a soaring literary lawyer, remains the stubborn, ambitious go-getter with perfect legs that he's never quite been able to get out of his head. After a night on the strip leads to a little too much reminiscing and far too many tequila shots, Easton and Maya wake up the next morning very, very...married. Maya's determined to annul their nuptials before anyone else hears about their drunken mistake, while Easton is convinced their little mishap is a stroke of fate, and he's not going to let her walk away this time. Before he signs away their marriage as if it never happened, he's determine to convince Maya to give him one chance to prove that this experiment in love might just be a forever kind of deal.

Genres: Novella, He Falls First, Friends To Lovers, Audiobook

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2025

About the author

Sarah fell in love with reading as a child, starting with the Magic Treehouse Series. She quickly learned that books can take her to all the places she always dreamed of going, and allow her to live endless lifetimes in the one that we are given.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf, not for me. I’ve only left a rating as I need to for NetGalley, it might be for you though!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the opportunity to review 🎧

[Katie Cabatic · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 44%…

It’s taken me 3 days to get 40% on a 120 page book. This book cringed me out with the nicknames. He called her Maya baby 41 times in a 120 page book and she calls him pretty boy 🤢. I didn’t realize how much I hate the term baby until this book. Also, the wedding in Vegas they didn’t remember just sent me over the edge.

[Brooke]

dnf jan 2026 @ 7%

i had to dnf this book not even 10% in because the male narrator was not doing it for me. Listening to him say "maya baby" in his voice and the spicy scene was just such a turn off for me. i am so sorry SAB, i swesr ill read the rest of the series but physically :( <3 so grateful for the opportunity to get to try this one out.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Tantor Media for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

this was honestly just SO disappointing 😭

maybe it’s a mood thing, or the narration, cause I can’t fully pinpoint why I didn’t really enjoy this…

I almost stopped reading/listening in the prologue - I struggled to get invested in these characters
but this is pretty short so I thought I’d hang on & see if it got better for me.

There were definitely some good moments, and some that I found funny, which is why I stuck it out until the end. I enjoyed their “date” night out in Vegas, that was pretty sweet & I actually felt like they were connecting.

I really can’t hear “Maya baby” one more time though 😳
(I searched the ebook, 41 TIMES in 116 pages)
I wasn’t a huge fan of “pretty boy” either 🙃

🎧 I enjoyed the female narrator, but I really didn’t connect with the male narrator.

✦ tropes & stuff:
💖 valentine novella
1️⃣ one night stand
💼 both lawyers
💍 accidental marriage (10 years later)
😍 boy obsessed
💞 dual 1st person pov

🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 2.5 | 🌶️: 4 |

📖 The Forever Experiment by Sarah A. Bailey
📚 part of the Soulmate series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Star Williams & JD Tomlinson

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

i needed this to be longer than 106 pages 😔

[What.Nikki.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this
A little Valentine's novella
Second chance
Marriage pact
Accidental Vegas wedding
Delicious spice
Spicy

🎧 Narrated by Star Williams; JD Tomlinson

What a perfect little holiday Novella! Who doesn't love a sweet but 🥵🥵🥵🥵 Vegas marriage?!
I've read this with eyeballs and audio and both were great experiences but the audio brought a little extra to the experience!

Thank you for this ALC Tantor and Sarah!

[kelseareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a big fan of the Pacific Shores series, so I been excited to read Sarah’s backlist. This was such a fun Valentine’s Day novella! Easton and Maya had so much chemistry and this audiobook was spicy!! I love the accidental Vegas marriage microtrope and the fact that they hooked up ten years prior added a great twist. Sarah writes such great romances and I’m excited to read the Soulmate series next!

What to expect:
🩷 Valentine’s Day Novella
🩷 One Night Stand
🩷 Accidental Marriage
🩷 “My Wife”
🩷 He Falls First

Thank you to Sarah A. Bailey and her team for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[naomi ☾ (abooktoberead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALC review!

This was a bit of a disappointing read for me.

I thought the female narrator was excellent and she did a great job. I did not connect with the male narrator however, and he made it hard to get through.

I just really struggled with this. The storyline would've been better served in a full length novel. There were parts I enjoyed, especially the representation, but felt any sort of emotional connection was kind of ripped away from me as it was just too short overall.

I'd rate this a 2.5 🌟

Thank you to Sarah, Netgalley, and Tantor for the ALC copy!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a second chance romance with such a sweet ending. This short novella packed in a lot of spice and yearning in such a small package. I enjoyed these characters and loved how they threw caution to the wind and gave into their feelings in the end. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should’ve been a full story of at least 300 pages. A novella was good but I needed more.

[(Krystal) Twisted Bookstore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet novella about the one that got away and I loved the characters and spice.
Thanks Netgalley

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covering like 11 years in 120 pages was crazy. Was honestly boring because you couldn’t get invested in any part of it

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one felt like a near miss in every direction. Short, promising, and sprinkled with moments that almost worked, it ultimately left me more frustrated than satisfied, and I finished it hoping for a connection that never fully formed.

I debated stopping early, but since it is such a quick read, I decided to stick it out and see if it found its footing. There were a few bright spots along the way. The Vegas date night was genuinely sweet, and for a brief moment I felt like the characters were actually clicking. There were also a handful of funny lines and some enjoyable representation that kept me from completely checking out.

That said, even for a novella, the emotional arc felt rushed, and any chance of real depth or payoff was undercut by how quickly everything moved. The foundation was there, but the brevity stripped away the weight of the second chance romance and made the yearning feel more told than felt. The repeated dialogue and pet names also just kept pulling me out of the story. TOO many "babys" and "maya baby"s just feel sin authentic. Instead of feeling intimate, it became grating, especially in such a short book where repetition is far more noticeable.

The female narrator did a fantastic job. She brought warmth, emotion, and personality to her chapters and kept me engaged even when the story itself faltered. Unfortunately, I did not like with the male narrator at all. His delivery made it difficult for me to stay immersed, particularly during romantic and spicy scenes, which completely broke the mood rather than enhancing it. And he almost called attention to the parts of the story that weren't landing (all those MAYA BABYS).

Overall, this was a disappointing listen for me. While some readers may enjoy the quick hit of spice and the hopeful ending, I was left wishing for more development, stronger emotional grounding, and it never became the story I wanted it to be.

[Marlee Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to read this back when it was a brand new indie book and i loved it just as much if not MORE the second time around! If you are looking for a spicy, swoony valentines day novella with a high achieving woman and a man who would (and does) fall to his knees for her and this one's for you!

I absolutely devoured this one (twice) Easton and Maya are so easy to love! Maya is such a badass queen who bends for no one! If you have a problem with my girl you come talk to me 🫵🏼 I will defend her with my life!

EASTON MASON THE MAN YOU ARE!!!! The way he supports and encourages Maya's career achievements and never brings her down is something every woman deserves.
This man is down so bad! He would bark LIKE A DOG if she asked him too! And the SPICE?!?! OH MY GOD TOP TIER!!! Easton Mason has a MOUTH on him!!! I am still thinking about the window scene!!! 🥵😮‍💨 The banter was fantastic! "Maya Baby!!!!" "Pretty Boy!!!" I LOVED THESE NICKNAMES!!! The way Sarah managed to cover their story in a 3 hour audio without feeling rushed at all is a TALENT!

Narration: Star Williams and JD Tomlinson are both new to me narrators and I will definitely be seeking them out as narrators again! They both gave a great performance and paired together so well!

💍 one night stand
💍 he falls first
💍 married in vegas
💍 exhibitionism
💍 he does her night routine for her
💍 novella
💍 second chance

Thank you Tantor audio for the ALC!!!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

This audiobook is narrated by Star Williams (Maya) and JD Tomlinson (Easton). I loved Star Williams’s narration for Maya, as she brought so much warmth and personality to the character. She also did a fantastic job voicing Easton during her chapters, especially considering this is not a duet narration. JD Tomlinson’s performance was great as well, though I personally just did not connect with his narration as much.

This is a fun, short story about two lawyers who attended college together ten years earlier and shared an unforgettable, steamy moment that neither was able to forget. Ten years later, they unexpectedly reunite at a corporate convention in Las Vegas and well you have to read the rest! You should note that the prologue is heavily explicit and features heavy open door spice.

Easton is an obsessed MMC who would do anything for Maya. Maya is a strong, driven, and successful lawyer, while also dealing with relatable insecurities that add realism to her character. The banter, romance, and overall character dynamics made this an enjoyable and entertaining listen.
I would rate this audiobook 3.5 stars.

While insta love/lust is not typically my preferred trope, Sarah still managed to draw me in and keep me engaged. I would have enjoyed more length and development, but given that this is a short story, the faster pacing is understandable.

[Monica Bowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The spice-heavy focus didn’t work for me. The intimate scenes felt awkward rather than sensual, leaning more cringe than chemistry. Elements like voyeurism were especially uncomfortable, and the repeated pet name “Maya, baby” quickly wore thin.

There are positives worth noting. I appreciated the Black FMC and the interracial relationship, and I liked the idea of the FMC working through her insecurities. Easton taking care of her and offering the love she deserves could have been genuinely touching, but the execution relied too much on telling us how in love they are, instead of showing it through meaningful moments.

By the time we reach the inevitable “you’re the best love I’ve ever had, but we can’t be together” breakup, it didn’t land emotionally. The emotional payoff just wasn’t there because the foundation hadn’t been built strongly enough.

Overall, this felt like a case of spice over substance. Readers looking purely for erotic elements may enjoy it, but if you’re hoping for authentic chemistry, and emotional depth, this one may fall short.

Thank you Tantor Media and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Yvonne W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella I didn't think we needed, until I read it! I am so happy Sarah decided to write a story about Easton, the brother of Penelope from The Soulmate Theory. This novella tells the love story of Easton and Maya, a girl he has been crushing on since law school. This story is dedicated to all the elder daughters, the girls who are ambitious and go after what they want. It's for the girls who are un-apologetically themselves, can manage everything on their own and do not need anyone to come save/rescue them. All of these traits are a part of Maya. I loved her character. She is so strong-willed and determined in everything she does. As much as this is a love story, at its core, it is also a story of how someone who is known to always be strong and takes care of others, finally lets down her walls and accepts the help and love of someone else. She learns to depend on someone else (Easton) and lets herself be taken care of. Easton is kind of a side character in this story because he is just along for the ride, supporting Maya and loving her. I am happy they have a happy ending and I am glad Easton is not the type of guy who's ego gets in the way of loving his girl properly. He is just the most supportive of Maya and her career, and Maya's biggest fan! I love all the MMC's that Sarah writes! They're just so perfect! Giving it 4 stars because I wish this story was longer!

[Krystle Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t even want to give it 1 star. Very disappointing. I was given an ALC through Net Galley, thank you for the opportunity. The narrators I feel were good for their characters. However, the male narrator who played Easton was definitely cringe worthy. I’m not sure if it was the narrator himself or just the character he had to play.
The storyline….what storyline?? This book was hard to finish, I wanted to stop reading/listening to it after the first 3-5 minutes. It started out super strong, I wasn’t sure what I just started listening too. The description of the book didn’t match the “adult content” in the book, I didn’t get this intense vibe by reading the description. The description actually intrigued me and I was interested in reading the book. I think the intense “spicy scenes” were over done and took so much away from the book. Reflecting back there was only a very small part of the book related to the story line. If you want to read a really “spicy” adult content book with no story line needed to follow this would be a good book for you.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thank you to Page & Vine Publishing and NetGalley for giving me an ALC to listen and review. Star Williams & JD Tomlinson did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. If you have a chance to listen to this over reading the physical copy, DO IT!

The Forever Experiment is a short and sweet Valentine’s story between two friends from college. They reconnect at a conference in Las Vegas. And after a night of shenanigans they end up accidentally married. Maya thinks it’s a mistake, but Easton wants to stay married. Will Maya be able to overcome her fears and will Easton be able to prove his love and keep the girl?!?!

I loved everything about this novella. And in all honesty it’s my favorite in the series. My only complaint was that it wasn’t longer. I loved both Easton & Maya so much and I wasn’t ready for their story to end. The banter, the spice and chemistry were off the charts and I can’t recommend it enough!

[Beth (bethsbookshelfx) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺.”
———————————————————————
This was my last book to be caught up in Sarah’s worlds, I feel so lucky to have got an ALC of this book. My first ALC and it’s a great one to have. I finished this book within 24 hours. I went on my first hot girl walk and this kept me company and kept me on track it was so beautiful to listen to. Maya and Easton are my loves and their story is one everyone should listen to.
I cannot wait to have more Sarah to read soon with her new series 🥺
———————————————————————
“𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩. 𝘕𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.”
———————————————————————
💍 Accidental Marriage
💼 One Night Stand
💍 Valentines Day Erotic Novella
💼 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💍Obsessed MMC
💼 “My Wife”

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up
A unique take on a second chance romance, with an added bonus of an independent woman not giving up everything for love. Law school students Maya and Easton have a special night together. A decade later, Easton cannot believe when he gets the chance to see her again at a conference in Vegas, and well, they end up having an accidental marriage. The pining and longing and never giving up on her from Easton as enduring, and I appreciated how Maya didn’t give up on her success for romance was also enduring. It was a bit hard for me to relate to the characters as there wasn’t much time for character depth or connection, but overall a cute, spicy Valentine’s Day romance novella.
I listened to this on audio, the narrators were new to me and I thought they portrayed the characters appropriately and I enjoyed their dynamic together.
Thanks to Tantor Audio for the ALC.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The audiobook, The Forever Experiment by Sarah A. Bailey is a pretty spicy story of Easton, who is Penelope’s, from The Soulmate Theory, brother and his relationship with Maya. I read The Soulmate Theory first and the characterization of Easton in this story did not seem to match his characterization in The Soulmate Theory- at least for me and the way I imagined him, and I found this really annoying. I really enjoyed The Soulmate Theory- this one was just okay. The narrators, Star Williams and JD Tomlinson were great, but the story itself was just plain cringy. “Maya Baby” and “Pretty Boy”?

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and to Tantor Media for the opportunity to have an early listen to this audiobook.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

💍Accidental Marriage
💍Second Chance
💍One Night Stand
💍Novella

This was such an enjoyable read and the perfect palate cleanser. Maya and Easton share a one night stand, and ten years later they cross paths again in Vegas…leading to a drunken night and an accidental marriage. I absolutely loved these two and honestly wished their story had been longer. I just wanted more of them.

This book is perfect if you enjoy a black cat FMC paired with a golden retriever MMC and are looking for a quick, fun read that’s ideal for Valentine’s Day.

Star Williams and JD Tomlinson did a fantastic job bringing Maya and Easton to life with their dual narration, adding even more charm and personality to the story.

[Francisca Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Forever Experiment by Sarah A. Bailey is an okay read. I loved that it featured a presumed interracial could (presumed because the only thing repeatedly mentioned was how dark her skin was). I liked most of the romance and appreciated that multiple vulnerable scenes were included to add depth.

However, I could not visualize the prologue in a way that wasn't outrageous. Also, while I'm far from a prude, I am unable to find the word c**t even remotely sexy and cringed every time Easton said it. Speaking of cringe: Maya baby.

Star Williams as Maya has a melodic voice that I preferred. JD Tomlinson as Easton said "Maya baby" in such a grating way that I'm not completely sure the problem was the nickname itself.

Thank you to Tantor Media for providing with an ALC.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forever Experiment by Sarah A. Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Forever Experiment is a swoony valentines novella. Easton has been in love with Maya for so long, they had one unforgettable night together on Valentine’s Day years ago, then nothing. And he’s been pining for her ever since. Easton will 100% have you swooning, I loved his character so much. He is so down bad for Maya and it really shows. I listened to the audiobook for this one and Star Williams and JD Tomlinson really brought these characters to life. They did such an amazing job and I highly recommend listening!!

💕 Accidental Marriage
💕 “Just this once”
💕 Acts of Service MMC
💕 “My Wife”
💕 Literary Lawyer FMC
💕 Valentine’s Day Novella
💕 One Night Stand
💕 Exhibitionism
💕 He Falls First
💕 Black Cat x Golden Retriever

[Miranda Shore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor media for this ALC! The narration for this was excellent, and fit the characters very well.

Novellas have a tall order in my opinion. You have to quickly endear characters to the reader and I felt that aspect fell flat with this one. While this was an easy and enjoyable listen, it was hard to get invested when the story moved so quickly I never felt any sort of way towards the characters. If you want a spicy and sweet novella to listen to, I do recommend this. But as far as a love story- it didn't hit for me!

[Sarah Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love a short novella, but nothing tops a short Sarah A Bailey Novella! We got a my wife moment, a spit on it moment, and a knock out FMC. This was the perfect little pre Valentine’s Day read! I loved them so much! Pretty boy and Maya baby 😭😭😭

I think novellas are meant to be fast paced and the timing for this novella really worked for me. If it wasn’t a novella I’m sure there would have been more of what happened in the in between time but I’m honestly okay with the novella length! Sometimes it’s nice to get something short, sweet, and spicy! I loved this so much.

[Samantha | Chapters + Tequila · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was cute. a fun take on a second chance. I enjoyed the female narrator more than the male. I read a lot of novellas, this one was a little hard to connect to or really get invested in. With covering so much time in 120 pages, I think that is where the slight miss was for me. But overall, I am glad that I read it! I am excited to dive into Sarah's backlist since I loved Pacific Shores!

One Night Stand
"My Wife"
He Falls First
Accidental Marriage

Thankful to Sarah for giving me this ALC for my honest review.

[Shay's Shelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm a big fan of Sarah a Bailey! I love her pacific shores series so I'm excited to dive into more of this series.

I really enjoyed this story and these characters!

I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrators so I docked a star for that - especially the male narrator. And I love a well placed baby but "maya baby" felt really over used in such a short novella, so half a star for that.

I love an accidental Vegas wedding and a bad ass FMC though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC!

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ALC REVIEW*

I originally read this as an ARC before it indie released and ate it up! Anything Sarah writes I will absolutely read so I was stoked to get the audio! It was just a sweet as it was the first time! I could’ve listened to a full length book of Maya and Easton. The effect amount of sweet and spicy!

Star Williams and JD Tomlinson were a perfect Maya and Easton! They’re exactly how I imaged they would sound! I forgot it wasn’t even a duet production while listening I was that wrapped up in the story!