It Happened One Semester

by Aurora Rey

After years of hard work, Hudson Greene is keen to launch her tenure-track career at the illustrious Coteau College. But her first day takes an unexpected turn when she walks into new faculty orientation and discovers that Callie Shaw—her unforgettable one-night stand from the local Pride festival—is also the dean of advising.

Callie loves guiding students through the chaos of academia, even if it means dealing with clueless professors. She goes with the flow, and her covert Shit Professors Say social media account provides an outlet for chronicling faculty missteps. Dating one, though? Definitely not on her syllabus.

Mutual attraction proves hard to resist, and technically there’s no rule against faculty-staff relationships. But between campus politics and Callie’s secret, policy might be the least of their problems. Can Hudson and Callie navigate office hours and off-the-clock romance, or will their shot at love turn into an epic fail?

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Audiobook

312 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Aurora Rey is a college dean by day and a life coach award-winning author of queer romance author the rest of the time, except when she’s cooking, baking, riding the tractor, or pining for goats. She grew up in a small town in south Louisiana, daydreaming about New England. She keeps a special place in her heart for the South, especially the food and the ways women are raised to be strong, even if they're taught not to show it. After a brief dalliance with biochemistry, she completed both a B.A. and an M.A. in English.

She is the author of the Cape End Romance series and several standalone contemporary lesbian romance novels and novellas. She is has been a finalist for the Lambda Literary, RITA®, and Golden Crown Literary Society awards, but loves reader feedback the most. She lives in Ithaca, New York with her dog and whatever wildlife has taken up residence in the pond.

Reviews

[Stuffl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Hudson, who is new in town and meets Callie on Pride night. Everything happens quite quickly and they end up in bed together. It's a night that neither woman will ever forget. A few weeks later, they meet again and discover that they are now colleagues at a college.

I actually struggled to get into the story until the end. Despite the numerous spicy scenes, I couldn't see or feel any chemistry or attraction between Hudson and Callie. I couldn't really root for them and, to be honest, I didn't really understand why the two were together.

What may have also made it difficult for me to get into the story was the fact that the two of them weren't really at the center of the story. It was mostly about college and Hudson and Callie's two best friends. Apart from the sex scenes, there weren't that many scenes where the two of them could just be together and it could get romantic.

The third breakup wasn't really convincing. I didn't understand why they were arguing about it until the end. But maybe that was because I didn't like Hudson very much.

I listened to the audiobook and unfortunately have to say that I didn't really like the narrator. It was all quite monotonous and I couldn't feel the emotions.

All in all, a romance with huge flaws that I can't really recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about Hudson Greene who is a new professor at a small liberal arts college in New York. She is a true academic who loves learning. Hudson is an eager beaver who always is prepared and is a rule follower. At a Pride event she meets Callie Shaw an administrator at her same college. But they don’t share any info on their first hook up, so they have a funny scene when they figure out each others’ jobs.

I liked both characters and enjoyed the humor in the dialogue. This was extra spicy with many, many sex scenes. Both Hudson and Callie have best friends and they were a big part of the book. I have read several Rey books in the past and have enjoyed them. Rey works in Academia and knows her stuff and adds a ton of detail to the workings of a college.

Callie also has satirical website where she posts humorous tongue in cheek comments that professors make. I enjoyed this and found it clever and true. And can see why Rey was brave to include this side story to her novel. Since it criticizes and makes fun of professors.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Sam]

It has been a while since I read an Aurora Rey book, I certainly have never listened to one.
Surprisingly enough I didn’t mind the narration, I will make some enemies by saying this: Abby Craden isn’t really my favourite. Her s sounds are a bit too sharp to my ears and the lower voices she uses for some characters annoy me.
So, given I didn’t mind it as much in this one must tell you something.

The story is sweet enough, but lacks depth. It’s a one night to forever story without any emotional development. There is a lot of sex, which is sort of typical for any Rey I’ve read. When reading some of her books I tended to skip over some of those scenes, that’s much more difficult to do with an audiobook. The scenes are fine, but I want a bit more emotional development, any really. I don’t understand how you go from basically being sex buddies to the I love you stage without some emotional character development. And I am not talking about the sad excuse of dark moment in this book.

Anyway, it’s fine enough, maybe the narrator even saved it from being utterly boring and annoying. Which is surprising to me, I guess we learn something new every day ;)

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was definitely an over-exaggeration of the supposed barriers to their relationship past the personal ones so that was a bit of a problem for me but everything else I enjoyed. The writing and dialogue was definitely reflective of a millennial trying to understand gen-z and I am choosing to believe that it added to the characterization or else I will begin to twitch.

That aside, I did enjoy Hudson and Callie. They were pretty cute!

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple girl meets girl story.
They meet at a pride day, have a one night stand, discover they work at the same university, start dating, and have wild experimental erotic sex.
That's it...end of story. Not much more to it.
The narrator, Amy Craden is one of my favorite narrator. She always brings life to the characters.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the drama of college!

Hudson is surprised to find Callie, the woman she had a one-night stand with, is the one leading faculty orientation as she starts her career at Coteau College. Callie guides students and shares about professors on a social media account she has anonymously, as an outlet for missteps taken by the faculty members. There is no rule against them entering into a relationship, but with Callie not telling Hudson about her social media account and campus politics, their relationship is in a compromising position.

Aurora has a wealth of knowledge about campus, colleges, and university’s that is expertly shared in this story with setting and complexities surrounding Callie and Hudson’s situation. I loved all the snippets we got from Callie’s secret account, and they really made the story for me because they were ironically funny in most cases. Hudson felt pretty much the same way thinking it was just a fun account until a few things started helping her connecting the dots that it had to be someone at Coteau. When she started putting feelers out to find out if anyone else felt the same things got really awkward between her and Callie. I was just glad they had friend’s around them who could get them talking and back on track.

I loved their fun loving attitude towards their relationship. They both understood it might have difficulties and they had to take care, but that didn’t stop them from connecting and growing closer. They had a wonderful connection and I just wish they hadn’t had the little bump in the road. Some honesty from Callie early on perhaps would have saved them both some heartache. They were perfect for one another though, as Hudson was one who followed by the rules and took things seriously, and Callie was able to lighten the mood, get her guard down a bit and have fun. But Hudson helped Callie to think about the implications of some of the things she did on impulse.

Really enjoyed this and was hooked on what was going to happen when Hudson found out Callie was the one running the account with her friend.

[Minna Perälä · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally I received advanced reader copy (ARC) of the book via Netgalley. Due to too long ARC queue I didn't have time to read the book in time. I listened to the audiobook edition of it instead once it was published.

It Happened One Semester was my first Aurora Rey book. I didn't know what to expect.

I sometimes like the one-night-to-forever trope. I prefer if, after the original encounter, the characters get to know each other, try to ignore growing feelings, maybe even have some obstacles why they shouldn't be together. I always prefer slow burn, even if the story begins with one night stand.

It Happened One Semester is not slow burn and it dealt the relationship from the physical to emotional. Which is not my favourite trope. I also missed the actual falling in love (on page). One MC thought about her growing feelings/possible love once before declaring love. The other didn't even think or discuss about it (on page). The love declarations came almost out of the blue. I didn't get to experience yearning and feeling giddy - I crave the journey of falling in love in a romance novel. It's usually the best part.

The book is also rather spicy with a lot of variety. I like romance books with open door spice but too much of it can make the book off-putting.

The novel is in no means bad. The writing is good and the story flows effortlessly. Both MCs are interesting (although towards the end both are a bit stupid which is used to set up crisis in the relationship). It Happened One Semester was an entertaining light read. Abby Craden was great narrator.

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

having never been to university some of the things mentioned in the book was so far above my grade but the human part i could get... but i found the relationship between hudson and callie a difficult one to understand... but others might get it

hudson and callie meet up at a pride event and hook up .... hudson is new to the area but callie has been there for a while and is fairly certain she will see hudson before hudson realises....

hudson for her part thinks its a one and done event and when callie walks out to give her speech hudson nearly falls off her chair and then has to make good on her one night stand realising that they work at the same university

its a lively story with plenty of spice i even looked up ben wa balls as that scene was memorable....

cant wait to read what else this author comes up with

[Shannon H · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Happened One Semester switches between the two main characters, Hudson and Callie, who both work at a local college and turn a one-night fling into a relationship. The book was very spicy, and at times I felt like that outweighed the plot points.

I wish there had been more development in their relationship beyond the physical aspects, and I also would have liked to see more conflict, especially surrounding Callie’s role as the person behind the anonymous social media account.

Thank you for the ALC, all opinions are my own!

[fifi fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

grateful to NetGalley, the author and publishers for granting me this e-ARC!

⭐️⭐️.75

i don’t really expect much from romance books anyway but this was a very basic sapphic romance with forced chemistry and bland characters. the author wants you to believe in some sort of forbidden tension and yearning that unfortunately doesn’t actually exist, considering there’s no real reason why they can’t be together. i also didn’t love how most of the characters’ dialogue felt like a weird mix of millennial and gen z internet buzzwords. all in all, i didn’t hate it and appreciated how inclusive and obviously intentional it read.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
This book was not worth the time I spent reading it. The plot and writing was dry, the characters flat, the dialogue felt unrealistic, and the chemistry was nonexistent. And while I appreciate the attempt at diversity and inclusion it felt forced to me.
I do hope that this book finds its audience. Unfortunately that was not me.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and author Aurora Rey for this ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

I was immediately drawn to this book because I love stories that take place in academia! Bonus points for college campuses! The title sucked me right in and the cover art is adorable and reminded me of all the fun fall semesters of my own college years. Needless to say, I had unknowingly set the bar pretty high before I even read the first page. Nevertheless, this book did not disappoint and more than lived up to the expectation I had set in my mind. It Happened One Semester is an engaging, compelling, fun and very sexy one night to forever workplace romance. I very much enjoyed this book and have become a fan of Aurora Rey!

Hudson Greene is a talented and hard working college professor whose ambition is rivaled only by her dedication. She is thrilled to begin what she hopes will become a successful career as a tenured professor at a new college. Only, much to her chagrin, she realizes that her summer one night stand is none other than the schools Dean of advising. Callie Shaw is an outgoing, passionate and highly respected Dean who loves guiding students through their collegiate journeys. She is calm, cool and collected and is immune to much of the chaos that may exist in the college workplace. Callie isn't exactly surprised to run into Callie as she figured out that Callie would indeed be a professor at the college where she works during their initial romantic interlude but her lingering attraction and pull toward Hudson may be a bit surprising. What follows is a fun and wonderfully spicy love story that I really enjoyed.

The tension and attraction between Hudson and Callie is everpresent. There was no way that these two were going to be able to remain just colleagues and that was made clear right away. While not explicitly disallowed, the idea of mixing work and romance is certainly frowned upon and adds a “forbidden” element that I ate right up. Though there were more than a few obstacles than the two had to navigate and overcome, I felt their chemistry and connection grow stronger and stranger as the book progresses. Callie has a secret social media account that highlights the absurdities that escape the mouths of college professors. This was a source of conflict but not one that would prove to completely derail the relationship that Hudson and Callie built.

I found the writing to be excellent! Rey’s voice is witty, funny, clear and truly engaging. I felt like this book was written with a distinct voice and the chargers, storyline and setting was well developed. I very much enjoyed the college atmosphere and Rey does such a good job of accurately depicting college life that Coteau College feels like a character in and of itself. I felt invested in the love story between Hudson and Callie and was rooting for them all along.
Hudson and Callie were such fun characters and written as realistic and layered women. Their dynamic is sweet, sincere and real. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and we are treated to a few steamy open door scenes that will float around in my mind for a while. I love spicy scenes in any sapphic romance that I read because I feel like they add a very necessary component of a successful romance. Aurora Rey does a great job with writing spicy scenes that help the love story shine. I really liked Hudson and Callie together. They could be vulnerable together and add to each other's life. They were great together and I was thrilled to see them succeed…eventually. I never revel in third act breakups but I get that they can help the central love story to come back even stronger. I see that in this story and feel that Hudson and Callie overcame their obstacle and come together to build a stronger relationship that would stand the test of trials, tribulations and hopefully, time.

Aurora Rey has created a really fun and entertaining sapphic love story in It Happened One Semester. I found it to be an exciting and satisfying read with realistic characters, fun setting and a sweet and swoon worthy love! I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a low angst, one night to forever, workplace romance that has a few very excellent spicy scenes and a fun college vibe!

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggled with this one and genuinely thought it was heading for a 3⭐️—until I hit the last 20%, when things finally picked up! I just wish the rest of the book had engaged me the way the ending did. I’ve been trying to pinpoint what made the third act click, and I think it’s because it wasn’t relying on the nonstop spice that dominated the earlier chapters.

And let me tell you… that spice was cringy with a capital C. I usually love Sapphic romances, so the issue wasn’t the pairing—it was the language. It just wasn’t fun or sexy; it was awkward in a way that made me want to shrivel into myself. Eventually I had to start skipping those scenes because I simply couldn’t take them anymore.

But once we got to the third-act “trouble,” things finally came together and actually evoked some real emotional connection with the characters.

The true hero here is narrator Abby Craden, who absolutely delivered. Without her performance, I don’t think I would’ve stayed engaged, and honestly, I might’ve DNF’d. She reads at a great pace, differentiates the voices beautifully, and really gives life to the cast.

So in the end—literally—I do recommend this one. Not enthusiastically, but if you enjoy academia-set romances, this twist on the forbidden trope might be worth a look.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Tantor via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[Barbara Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Idea: The serious new professor meets a vivacious dean, and while their work and positions at the college set up some roadblocks for them, their chemistry and connection can only really lead to one outcome ;)

Format Consumed: Audiobook through NetGalley (Thanks Tantor Media!)

Favorite Parts:

Smut is fun (and this one had some excellent bedroom scenes), but it is almost impossible for me to enjoy a romance if the plot is not strong as well. And this book passes that test with flying colors.

As a former college staff member myself, I related quite a bit to Callie’s struggles with the obliviousness of the professors around her. It is an uncomfortable truth that needs to be talked about more, that in so many professions there are these frustrating divides between who is given both the respect and flexibility of an “important” professional, and who is expected to accept the treatment they receive, no matter how qualified they are, or how important the work they do actually is.

A college campus was an excellent location for a workplace romance that can discuss the way a burgeoning couple can interact professionally, without any lingering ickiness of power imbalances. The space is both interconnected but also large enough to maintain the plot without corrupting the relationship.

Always happy when elitism is called out for being shitty! And the social media posts were all right on point…hard to get mad when it is all so true.

Fair Warnings:

It is a dual POV story with just one voice performer so, in audiobook format, it can be hard to track when the POV switches.

Both characters can feel a bit preachy at times. The author is clearly passionate about privilege and identity on college campuses, which are important and worthy issues to discuss, but the way they discuss their thoughts on these topics can, at times, feel disjointed from the rest of the story.

Spice Level: 4/5 – These two get it on right away and maintain an active level of smut throughout the story. I enjoyed the way they respectfully and thoughtfully play with enthusiastic consent.

Overall: If you are looking for a good romance with an interesting plot, reminiscent of Ali Hazelwood but without any hulking giants crowding the frame, then this is the book for you!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Happened One Semester is set at Coteau College around the Hudson Valley area of New York state. The story features Dr. Hudson Greene who is launching her career as an English professor at the college and Dean of Advising, Callie Shaw. Callie also runs the social media account for "Shit Professors Say" where she posts submissions of others as well as her own. However, her administration of this account is not well known at the college.

Hudson and Callie meet at the local Pride Festival in June prior to the start of the new academic year in August. They have a one-night stand and don't exchange any work-related information about themselves. However, the town where the college is located is a relatively small town and the college is the main employer. Nonetheless, Hudson is shocked to see Callie when Hudson attends her new professor orientation meeting in August. After the semester gets underway and Hudson gets her teaching legs under her, she and Callie begin to date and continue their romantic relationship. The angst in the story enters via the day-to-day minutia at the college, especially Callie feeling that she is perceived to be "below" faculty members since she is a member of the staff. In addition, the aforementioned SPS social media account causes tension between the two women when Hudson begins to question Callie about who administers the site and who has made some specific posts.

All in all, I am a fan of Aurora Rey's and have read many of her books. This book, while solid, just didn't generate the main character chemistry that many of her other books have done. I felt that the romantic tension was present with some good bedroom scenes, but the daily interactions between Hudson and Callie were insipid and lacking. The daily work-related drama about the other professors and their ongoings wasn't particularly interesting either. 3 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Scott Cutlip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hudson Greene is a new professor at Coteau College. Callie Shaw is the dean of advising–and also the woman Hudson had a one-night stand with during the local Pride festival. There is no issue with faculty and staff having a relationship, but there’s more than just that that might keep these two apart.

An issue I often have with romance books is that often the author makes the issues that are keeping the two from their inevitable happily ever after because of only one of the main characters, despite the book showing us that both have contributed to this. This novel is different in that it makes the issue essentially equal, when most of the problems are on one side. It was very difficult to enjoy Callie as a character, as she seems to have a strain of dishonesty throughout the book (usually through lies of omission, such as when she lets Hudson discover that they both work at the same college, even though Callie had already verified it or with Callie’s secret Twitter account, which documents things–often silly or eye-rolling–that professors say. So it’s sometimes difficult to enjoy the novel when it comes across so even-handed with the characters when it’s not (and that’s not to say Hudson is a saint–SHE does make mistakes and says things she shouldn’t have, but I just didn’t see the balance that the novel makes out there is).

Hudson is a delightful character. Though the interaction with students is somewhat limited, I particularly enjoyed those scenes. There were also a couple of side characters that almost seem like they might have their own novel in the future. And I bought the romance well enough; I just don’t feel like Callie really put forth the effort for it I felt she should have.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria Sidira · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole time I was reading the book, I was questioning the reason for its publication. While the premise suggested a captivating forbidden sapphic romance set within an academic en, environment, the resulting narrative reads as an unrefined draft.

The immediate progression from a one-night stand to a sexual relationship between the main characters, Callie and Hudson, diminishes the promised ‘forbidden coworkers’ element. Their relationship dynamic is primarily lustful with no genuine emotional connection, maturity, and most importantly, chemistry. The narrative provides minimal meaningful interactions between them, outside of intimate scenes and a few dates, dedicating a disproportionate amount of space to academic and friendship drama rather than the central romance. But that's not the only problem with the main and side characters. All of them suffer from feeling flat, exhibiting no special traits to make them interesting and meaningful development. The dialogues were frequently awkward and even painful to read because of the dry writing. Plus, the plot is largely absent, relying on ��vibes”.

I was seriously thinking of dnfing it, but pushed through since I was reading it with the audiobook. The listening experience of the audiobook was similarly unsatisfactory. The third-person perspective, combined with a lack of clear demarcation, made it difficult to understand the changes in the point of view. That issue could be resolved by naming the character before the shift of perspectives, a common practice in multi-POV narratives. Overall, I didn’t have an enjoyable experience and wouldn’t recommend it.

Many thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

many thanks and gratitude to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with an early audiobook copy of It Happened One Semester by Aurora Rey in exchange for my thoughts and honest review.

this novel piqued my interest after i read the premise; after listening for a few minutes, i was captivated. from start to finish this romance held my attention. i love that it’s set at a college (always a favorite for me!) and i found the main characters, Hudson and Callie, to be multifaceted and compelling. they have incredible chemistry (and then some!) and i think they balanced each other well.

the main conflict in this book is whether these two can make a faculty-staff relationship work. after experiencing a great one-night encounter that neither expected to go anywhere, it was quite enjoyable to experience how their relationship ended up developing. there are many complexities within the institution of higher education and working in academia holds many of them. i thought the author did a fabulous job weaving in the humor and banter to break up the more serious aspects, many of which had me laughing out loud several times. the character development was fantastic and i was bummed when this charming (and spicy!) story came to an end.

since i am reviewing the audiobook, i must emphasize how important the narrator is. they can make or break a story experience (or make an otherwise good book feel like a slog). thankfully, this is not the case with this one! Abby Craden is amazing! i highly suggest listening, even if reading the physical or ebook is more your thing.

the audiobook of It Happened One Semester will be published December 9, 2025.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Happened One Semester is a sweet, charming academic romance between a professor, Hudson, and an academic advisor, Callie. I love how the book explores the tense dynamic between faculty and staff at the university, and the disparity between these positions. This tension is the main conflict of the book, as Hudson and Callie are a pretty perfect match otherwise.

There are other barriers to their relationship built up in the beginning, hinting at this being a forbidden romance, but these are overcome and forgotten quickly. I expected more time and growth before Hudson and Callie got together. But, that quick progression did allow us to see how well they work together! Husdon is very much a people-pleasing overthinker, and Callie provides a nice balance to her. Hudson is also good for Callie, as she helps Callie think through the impact of her actions. The quicker progression also means the characters got 4-5 spicy chapters throughout the book. Overall, the will-they-won’t-they tension is a little lackluster, but the relationship itself is endearing and captivating.

One complaint specific to the audiobook is how it's tricky to keep track of the POV. The POV switches within a single chapter (I assume at scene breaks, but these aren't indicated in the audiobook), so it often took me a minute to identify the POV when it switched. This could be a bit jarring at times. But the narrator does a great job bringing Callie and Hudson to life! The narration flows well, and the characters are fairly distinct.

This book is perfect for readers wanting a sapphic academia romance with a fun, unique atmosphere and low angst!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute and sweet, and mature contemporary romance. The book follows Hudson, a junior professor on the track to tenure at her first school. When she arrived, it was pride month and she ends up hooking up with a gorgeous woman named Callie, Lo and behold, Callie ends up being the Dean of Advising at the same college as Hudson. They both decide to act on the chemistry that was generated at their one night stand, and start going out.

This book was fairly low anxious. It mostly followed around their relationship as well as showing us the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the intricacies of college staffing. I really like Callie and Hudson, they were funny, had great chemistry, and they actually talked to each other. There are two things I am not a big fan of, the 3rd act breakup, and only one of the MC's apologizing. On occasion, the major conflict was created solely by one character, but often, both characters had a part to play in their 3rd act breakup, however only one of them apologizes. It frustrates me. But I did not have that frustration with this book, which made me beyond giddy. As I mentioned, the characters, while still human are much more mature when it came to their relationship.

All in all, this was another wonderful book by the amazing Aurora Rey. I would highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance and anyone looking for maturity in the MC's.

Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set on a campus or campus adjacent. A lot of current trend vocabulary used and a lot of one word responses like “Fair” or “Valid”.
The mains are not new adult so I’m hoping this will ease off. Pronouns being proffered is of course a big part of the start.
One night to forever is not my favourite because I prefer intimacy when the couple has shown me their chemistry rather than just instant attraction. We also know the mains will meet again at work and I will confess to being impatient for that to happen. I’m only 10% in so a bit early to be impatient.
They have met again. There is no silly barrier and the only thing I am wondering about is how the writer will fill the amount of book left….. I might give it a few days and come back in case my lack of interest is me rather than the book not having a hook!
I took a break and read some other books. Whether the break meant I was in a different mood or just stopped before a better bit, and picking it back up, it reads better, I don’t know but I am less irritated by everything! There does however seem to be less “young speak”.
However the intimacy scenes didn’t work for me, tho I am sure different taste to mine will enjoy!
I could not tell you the last time an intimate scene had something new in the toy department! Still not a fan.
Moving away from young persons speech to adults helped, but I was never all in on the story. The romance didn’t grab me, but I certainly enjoyed it more the second time I picked the book up.

[SullenSapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level: 2.5/5 Open Door

Hudson Greene is starting her career as a professor at Coteau College. Prior to the school year starting, she mingles with locals and students at the local Pride festival. While there, she meets Callie Shaw and has an extraordinary one-night stand with.

Right before the semester begins, the new faculty gathers for their orientation and low and behold, Callie is just as surprised to see Hudson there as Hudson is to see Callie. Callie just so happens to be the Dean of Advising.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the Author in return for my honest review. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a social media post from a user named “Sh*t Professors Say” that ends up being relevant to that chapter. This isn’t a spoiler because you learn almost immediately that Callie is the one running the social media account. Just remember, sometimes not all things you post online are anonymous and Callie finds that out eventually.

I am an enjoyer of Aurora Rey books and this book definitely did not disappoint. For the most part, this is a low angst book and it centers on just the relationship between Hudson and Callie. If you’re looking for a low angst, relaxing, romance, this is one to pick up.

🎓 Sapphic Romance
🎓 One-Night Stand to Forever
🎓 Workplace Romance
🎓 Secret Identity
🎓 Lighthearted Romance

[Pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book, even though LGBTQ+ romance isn’t usually my genre. Aurora Rey’s story completely pulled me in from start to finish.

The story begins with Hudson Greene arriving for her new job as an English professor, only to find that the Dean of Advising is the same woman she had a one-night stand with a few months earlier. Hudson hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since, but she’s determined not to jeopardize her new tenure-track position over a brief fling.


This book delivers on every level. The romantic tension is perfectly paced, the college campus setting feels warm and authentic, and the characters are well-developed, engaging, and diverse. The chemistry between Hudson and Callie is magnetic, but what really stands out is how thoughtfully their emotional journey is written.


Even if you don’t usually read LGBTQ+ romance, I would highly recommend this to fans of rom-coms, contemporary love stories, and anyone who enjoys a compelling, character-focused read. It is heartfelt, smart, and nearly impossible to put down. Aurora Rey has created something truly special here.



Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for providing this Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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#ItHappenedOneSemester #NetGalley

[Janne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well… Sadly, this book wasn’t for me. The premise of the book suggested that the story was focussed on a forbidden romance - coworkers that should not be allowed to fall for each other, but do. It’s not how it works or feels in the story itself. Neither Hudson or Callie hide what they feel for each other. Instead, we get some academia drama, but even that wasn’t that exciting. The rest of the book, we follow the two getting on dates and handling things with students. It just didn’t get me hooked. Sometimes it felt YA, but the spicy scenes were clearly not meant for YA, which just confused me.

Reading this book trough audiobook was also a challenge. While the narrator used different voices for Hudson and Callie when they spoke, it was often hard to understand from which pov I was reading. The fact that both pov’s are women and the third person pov makes it hard. It would be easier if two women were narrators, or that the name of the character was named before you read their thoughts.

It not a long book, so if the premise interests you, try it. If you don’t like academic settings or are just tired of reading about campus life, I would skip this.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Media for providing the audiobook.

[Addison Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I listened to this as an ALC, so some of my rating comes down to the fact that a single narrator voices two women using almost exactly the same voice, outside of Hudson’s dialogue. The POV changes frequently mid-chapter, and without any audible change to the narration, it’s easy to become confused about whose POV the narrator is speaking from. If there had been two narrators or at least section headers indicating the change of POV, this might have been a more enjoyable listen.

As for the story, I liked the setting and the spice felt realistic, but I didn’t really feel any romantic chemistry between Callie and Hudson. Callie seemed aloof, and I kept thinking Hudson needed to focus on her new job instead of playing games with someone who judged her for not being proactive enough. The peek into university faculty life was kind of interesting, though the bits of Gen Z slang and the posts from the social media account fell flat for me. Overall, a slow listen, but if you’re looking for a low stakes sapphic romance without too much drama, this book will do the job.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ink & Coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (Story)
4 stars (Narration)
Spice 🌶🌶🌶

A cosy sapphic romance

I received this Arc from NetGalley in exhange for an honest review

Audiobook Review:

This is a story about Callie and Hudson and how a one night stand can blossom into something much more.

The story is about two individuals who are on two different rungs in the career ladder. They hook up as a one night stand and some time later their paths cross again when Hudson joins faculty at Coteau College, the College where Callie is a Dean.

It is very clear that faculty have a negative perception on the administration and vice versa. Callie, unbeknown to Hudson, runs a satire social media page called Shit Professors Say and plays a part in the stories plit. The two navigate their relationship through some ups and downs and have some very spicy scenes.

The narrator was great. I enjoyed her tone of voice for both the characters and even during those spicy scenes, she delivered ithe narration very well.


It was an enjoyable listen, and if you are lookiny for a calm and easy story with a bit of spice, this could be for you.

[Jeimy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. While I’m a longtime fan of Aurora Rey and Abby Craden is a consistently strong narrator, It Happened One Semester didn’t quite work for me. The premise had potential, but the execution felt underdeveloped.

Both Hudson and Callie came across as emotionally immature, which made it hard to connect with their relationship. The “Shit Professors Say” angle could have added some humor and edge, but it fell flat and lacked the bite or cleverness that might have balanced the story’s lighter tone. I wanted to see more nuance—especially from Callie, who, despite her role as a student advocate, seemed to lack compassion for her colleagues. Meanwhile, Hudson often read as timid and conflict-avoidant to a frustrating degree.

There were glimmers of promise in the setup and setting, and Craden’s narration certainly elevated the material. But ultimately, the weak plot, uneven dialogue, and lack of depth in character development made this a miss for me.

[Red Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Pride hook up and no expectations of ever meeting again or so Hudson and Callie thought but fate and a college campus has other ideas.
Hudson the earnest academic and Callie the Dean of Advising who has some issues with the attitudes and actions of academics find they have an attraction that draws them together but is it just sex or can it be something more?
There are some sex scenes but they were without the usual zing that the author usually writes with.
Callie is unsure if she should be in a relationship with Hudson because she is an academic - the relationship seems to develops slowly and their chemistry isn’t overtly obvious for a lot of the story.
We get a peak at the inner workings of academia and the misogyny that can/is prevalent there.
If you are looking for a low angst romance then this may be for you!
Thanks to Bold Stokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is an honest one left freely.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hudson attends her first Pride at Coteau College after moving there as a new professor. She meets Callie at Pride, they dance, flirt and end up in bed together.

(Well written sex scenes.)

Hudson shyly leaves in the morning, which she regrets later. Once school starts they meet again... as Callie is a Dean there. Oops.

Hudson has a mild freak out, while Callie enjoys teasing the younger woman. She reassures her that they're not violating any rules.

Callie and her coworker Sasha run a anonymous online humor account called 'Shit Professors Say' and a sample is at the start if each chapter. I get the feeling this will blow up somehow.

As Callie and Hudson start to date, one of the senior professors has begun to coast. Badly. And it comes up on SPS too, which Hudson realizes is from their school. Uh oh.

Third act breakup, which actually made sense and was in character.

Resolution, happy ending.

Good read, as expected from Aurora Rey. 4 out of 5 stars.