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Strap In: A super spicy sapphic romance
‘One night to forever with lashings of spice. Lou Morgan is a fantastic new voice in the sapphic world. I loved it!’ Clare Lydon
Can one night change your life forever?
Jean is married to her job and there is no room in her life for romance. Until she meets someone who takes her breath away.
There’s just one catch. Ava’s a woman. And Jean’s straight… isn’t she?
The chemistry’s scorching but there’s no place for Ava in Jean’s world. But free-spirited Ava is irresistible. And open to a purely physical relationship. This way Jean gets to have her cake and eat it too.
Yet spending time with Ava makes Jean question everything she thought she knew.
Is it time to start again?
A spicy Sapphic age-gap romance that fans of Casey McQuiston, Meryl Wilsner and Alexandria Bellefleur will love.
Readers are falling hard for Strap In:
‘The story, the characters, the spice, the romance, it’s all so BEAUTIFUL. I cried, I laughed…this book is an adventure and I did not want to put it down. I want to read this book again and again.’***** Reader Review
‘Strap In is a must-read not just for its steam, but for its rare ability to balance sensuality with soul-searching … This is a bold and beautifully layered ride you won’t forget.’***** Reader Review
‘Amazing! Perfection! This novel was absolutely incredible and is going to be joining my favorite list. READ THIS… The relationship between the protagonists was everything. It was so layered, and I loved witnessing it unfold… the chemistry was perfect.’***** Reader Review
‘This book had it all! From the very first page, I read it like I was in a fever dream. The beginning of the book was very spicy … but surprisingly, an extremely tender and deep relationship developed between Ava and Jean that blew me away.’***** Reader Review
‘The book is beautiful, the story is lovely, the characters well written ... I can’t wait for Lou Morgan’s next book.’***** Reader Review
‘A deliciously spicy and surprisingly tender age-gap romance … It’s a beautiful portrayal of acceptance and unconditional support ... The title isn’t just clever wordplay. This book delivers on the steam.’***** Reader Review
‘From the first page on I simply had trouble putting it down! ... It is written so beautifully and I was so hooked that I had a hard time parting with the ladies when real life came knocking on my door.’***** Reader Review
‘I felt everything from laughter to love and heartbreak … This book gripped me from the get-go. This book highlights bravery, self-discovery and well and truly choosing yourself for the first time.’***** Reader Review
‘A thoroughly enjoyable read, with a well-paced, emotionally driven narrative that should keep you, as it did me, turning the pages… The writing style flows beautifully and is fully engaging ... I really enjoyed this book. Oh, and yes, this is plenty spicy too :)’***** Reader Review
Can one night change your life forever?
Jean is married to her job and there is no room in her life for romance. Until she meets someone who takes her breath away.
There’s just one catch. Ava’s a woman. And Jean’s straight… isn’t she?
The chemistry’s scorching but there’s no place for Ava in Jean’s world. But free-spirited Ava is irresistible. And open to a purely physical relationship. This way Jean gets to have her cake and eat it too.
Yet spending time with Ava makes Jean question everything she thought she knew.
Is it time to start again?
A spicy Sapphic age-gap romance that fans of Casey McQuiston, Meryl Wilsner and Alexandria Bellefleur will love.
Readers are falling hard for Strap In:
‘The story, the characters, the spice, the romance, it’s all so BEAUTIFUL. I cried, I laughed…this book is an adventure and I did not want to put it down. I want to read this book again and again.’***** Reader Review
‘Strap In is a must-read not just for its steam, but for its rare ability to balance sensuality with soul-searching … This is a bold and beautifully layered ride you won’t forget.’***** Reader Review
‘Amazing! Perfection! This novel was absolutely incredible and is going to be joining my favorite list. READ THIS… The relationship between the protagonists was everything. It was so layered, and I loved witnessing it unfold… the chemistry was perfect.’***** Reader Review
‘This book had it all! From the very first page, I read it like I was in a fever dream. The beginning of the book was very spicy … but surprisingly, an extremely tender and deep relationship developed between Ava and Jean that blew me away.’***** Reader Review
‘The book is beautiful, the story is lovely, the characters well written ... I can’t wait for Lou Morgan’s next book.’***** Reader Review
‘A deliciously spicy and surprisingly tender age-gap romance … It’s a beautiful portrayal of acceptance and unconditional support ... The title isn’t just clever wordplay. This book delivers on the steam.’***** Reader Review
‘From the first page on I simply had trouble putting it down! ... It is written so beautifully and I was so hooked that I had a hard time parting with the ladies when real life came knocking on my door.’***** Reader Review
‘I felt everything from laughter to love and heartbreak … This book gripped me from the get-go. This book highlights bravery, self-discovery and well and truly choosing yourself for the first time.’***** Reader Review
‘A thoroughly enjoyable read, with a well-paced, emotionally driven narrative that should keep you, as it did me, turning the pages… The writing style flows beautifully and is fully engaging ... I really enjoyed this book. Oh, and yes, this is plenty spicy too :)’***** Reader Review
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 7, 2025
26 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Lou Morgan
45 books94 followersLou Morgan is an award-nominated adult and YA author. Her first novel, Blood and Feathers – an adult urban fantasy – was published by Solaris Books in 2012 and the follow-up, Blood and Feathers: Rebellion, was released in the summer of 2013.
Her first YA novel, Sleepless, is published by Stripes / Little Tiger Press as part of their Red Eye horror series.
She has appeared at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and has been nominated for three British Fantasy Awards (Best Newcomer and twice for Best Fantasy Novel).
Her short stories have appeared in anthologies from Solaris Books, PS Publishing and Jurassic, amongst others. She has also written genre novel-related features for magazines including Future Publishing’s SFX and is a long- and shortlist reader for the Bath Novel Award.
Born in Wales and a graduate of University College London, she now lives in Bath with her family.
She is represented by Juliet Mushens at The Agency Group / UTA.
Her first YA novel, Sleepless, is published by Stripes / Little Tiger Press as part of their Red Eye horror series.
She has appeared at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and has been nominated for three British Fantasy Awards (Best Newcomer and twice for Best Fantasy Novel).
Her short stories have appeared in anthologies from Solaris Books, PS Publishing and Jurassic, amongst others. She has also written genre novel-related features for magazines including Future Publishing’s SFX and is a long- and shortlist reader for the Bath Novel Award.
Born in Wales and a graduate of University College London, she now lives in Bath with her family.
She is represented by Juliet Mushens at The Agency Group / UTA.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 20, 2025
grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this e-ARC.
this was exactly what it promised to be; very sapphic, very spicy and slighty unrealistic. a good time though…
this was exactly what it promised to be; very sapphic, very spicy and slighty unrealistic. a good time though…
August 9, 2025
A solid debut, I enjoyed reading this and found it had good flow and steady pacing, lots of spice and some good tropes. This was an age gap, later in life sapphic awakening with some relatable moments.
I would say this is aimed at an older target audience, it does have some lovely deeper/heavy themes and moments which ideally need a trigger warning. But I could see this being a favourite read for those that could relate better to Jean.
It did have an Interesting if odd writing style, which was difficult to get into but worked surprisingly well.
Doesn’t feel believable but it is easy to read,
although very predictable, with third act conflict/breakup.
At times it could feel slow and had a lot of corporate/Jeans work featured, but some parts were necessary and I still did enjoy this read.
There were times Jean irritated me and although she was going through her own fear and trauma I didn’t like how she treated Ava, who on the other hand was a very easy to love and unproblematic character.
A heartwarming and hopeful ending, with happy ever after.
…..
“That's not true. Or why would I have chosen my career over her?'
'Because you were scared. Because you were traumatised. Because we live in a world more likely to punish women who are victimised than the men who abuse them.'
I would say this is aimed at an older target audience, it does have some lovely deeper/heavy themes and moments which ideally need a trigger warning. But I could see this being a favourite read for those that could relate better to Jean.
It did have an Interesting if odd writing style, which was difficult to get into but worked surprisingly well.
Doesn’t feel believable but it is easy to read,
although very predictable, with third act conflict/breakup.
At times it could feel slow and had a lot of corporate/Jeans work featured, but some parts were necessary and I still did enjoy this read.
There were times Jean irritated me and although she was going through her own fear and trauma I didn’t like how she treated Ava, who on the other hand was a very easy to love and unproblematic character.
A heartwarming and hopeful ending, with happy ever after.
…..
“That's not true. Or why would I have chosen my career over her?'
'Because you were scared. Because you were traumatised. Because we live in a world more likely to punish women who are victimised than the men who abuse them.'
February 1, 2026
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
She’s straight. She’s career-driven.
She’s absolutely not supposed to fall for a woman.
…And yet, here we are.
Strap In by Lou Morgan positions itself as a spicy sapphic romance, but what it ultimately delivers is something more introspective: a story about awakening, about the slow and often uncomfortable unravelling of a life that once felt certain.
Jean has built her world carefully. Her career comes first, emotional entanglements are neatly avoided, and her sense of self feels fixed—until Ava enters her life and introduces a possibility Jean has never allowed herself to consider. What begins as an attempt at something purely physical soon evolves into something far more destabilising, forcing Jean to confront not only her desires, but the assumptions she’s long held about who she is.
While the chemistry between Jean and Ava is undeniable, the novel’s reputation for being particularly “spicy” feels overstated. The heat is present, but it simmers rather than scorches, serving more as a catalyst for introspection than spectacle. For much of the first half, the pacing is measured to the point of restraint, and it’s only when genuine tension is introduced that the story truly begins to find its footing.
Ava emerges as the novel’s emotional centre. She is confident, open, and unapologetically herself—qualities that throw Jean’s rigidity into sharp relief. Every scene involving Ava feels more grounded, more alive, and it’s her presence that sustains the narrative when it threatens to linger too long in repetition.
Thematically, Strap In is thoughtful and self-aware, exploring identity, desire, and the fear inherent in starting over. That said, the novel would have benefitted from a tighter edit; the emotional impact of its ideas is occasionally diluted by its length, and the story could easily have been told with greater precision.
In the end, Strap In is an imperfect but engaging read—one carried by strong themes and a compelling love interest, even if it takes its time getting there.
Rating: 3.5 stars
She’s straight. She’s career-driven.
She’s absolutely not supposed to fall for a woman.
…And yet, here we are.
Strap In by Lou Morgan positions itself as a spicy sapphic romance, but what it ultimately delivers is something more introspective: a story about awakening, about the slow and often uncomfortable unravelling of a life that once felt certain.
Jean has built her world carefully. Her career comes first, emotional entanglements are neatly avoided, and her sense of self feels fixed—until Ava enters her life and introduces a possibility Jean has never allowed herself to consider. What begins as an attempt at something purely physical soon evolves into something far more destabilising, forcing Jean to confront not only her desires, but the assumptions she’s long held about who she is.
While the chemistry between Jean and Ava is undeniable, the novel’s reputation for being particularly “spicy” feels overstated. The heat is present, but it simmers rather than scorches, serving more as a catalyst for introspection than spectacle. For much of the first half, the pacing is measured to the point of restraint, and it’s only when genuine tension is introduced that the story truly begins to find its footing.
Ava emerges as the novel’s emotional centre. She is confident, open, and unapologetically herself—qualities that throw Jean’s rigidity into sharp relief. Every scene involving Ava feels more grounded, more alive, and it’s her presence that sustains the narrative when it threatens to linger too long in repetition.
Thematically, Strap In is thoughtful and self-aware, exploring identity, desire, and the fear inherent in starting over. That said, the novel would have benefitted from a tighter edit; the emotional impact of its ideas is occasionally diluted by its length, and the story could easily have been told with greater precision.
In the end, Strap In is an imperfect but engaging read—one carried by strong themes and a compelling love interest, even if it takes its time getting there.
Rating: 3.5 stars
August 12, 2025
I appreciated the chemistry and romantic undertones between Ava and Jean. From the start, it’s clear that Ava brings out the best in Jean, especially when Jean is navigating her sense of self both personally and professionally. I also appreciated the author’s note on making this a single POV, highlighting Jean’s journey through character development—her sexuality identity (and internal homophobia), her career as a lawyer, and her growing relationship with Ava.
My main gripe is the writing style. I’m not sure if “not a fan of the prose” is the right way to put it, but I found myself struggling to get through certain sections. While I usually am okay with third-person POV, the abundance of corporate work scenes (though necessary to set up a later moment) felt forgettable once read. Many of these parts didn’t seem to add much to the overall story after introducing the side characters.
Jean could also felt SO unlikable at times, but it was clear that much of this came from fear and projection tied to her internal homophobia. When it mattered most, she stepped up. The third act was kinda predictable, and I personally wished it had gone in the opposite direction, but I understand why it served to solidify Jean’s ARC.
Despite the title, the book isn’t overly spicy, but each intimate scene felt purposeful—tying into Jean’s journey of discovering and accepting her sexuality later in life (at 55) while deepening her connection with Ava.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hera Books, and Lou Morgan for the advanced copy!
My main gripe is the writing style. I’m not sure if “not a fan of the prose” is the right way to put it, but I found myself struggling to get through certain sections. While I usually am okay with third-person POV, the abundance of corporate work scenes (though necessary to set up a later moment) felt forgettable once read. Many of these parts didn’t seem to add much to the overall story after introducing the side characters.
Jean could also felt SO unlikable at times, but it was clear that much of this came from fear and projection tied to her internal homophobia. When it mattered most, she stepped up. The third act was kinda predictable, and I personally wished it had gone in the opposite direction, but I understand why it served to solidify Jean’s ARC.
Despite the title, the book isn’t overly spicy, but each intimate scene felt purposeful—tying into Jean’s journey of discovering and accepting her sexuality later in life (at 55) while deepening her connection with Ava.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hera Books, and Lou Morgan for the advanced copy!
January 26, 2026
exceptional Read it multiple times
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews