Strap In: A super spicy sapphic romance

by Lou Morgan

'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 laughedthis 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

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian, Contemporary

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2025

About the author

Lou 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.

Reviews

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly loved the dynamics between the leads. The romance pace was believable considering the relationship started out as casual. Also appreciated the one person POV as it fleshed out Jean's character development and cemented how fully realized Ava is as a person.

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found my original review and am happy to re-present it here!

Lou Morgan's Strap In is a thoroughly enjoyable read, with a well-paced, emotionally driven narrative that should keep you, as it did me, turning the pages watching Jean not facing all those messy emotions and denying her sexuality all while actively being involved in a relationship with a woman! Ms. Morgan has come up with the kind of read where you find yourself dying for the MC to *finally* allow the pennies to trickle and drop and get on with being happy!

The author talks about changing her mind from featuring a dual POV to a single one and from a cis white woman. Which is interesting because that means we mostly rely on Jean and Ava’s dialogue and on Jean’s burgeoning realizations to understand the issues brought up in this story, those of ethnicity and (shades of) color and how society and individuals relate.

There are some super-likable characters, even grumpy Jean (who I promise you’ll soon come to like), with personalities that shine through, and their interactions, often laced with witty dialogue and clever humor, add a delightful layer of fun. Ava is a hoot and has the patience of a saint. You might have to forgive the author perhaps painting her a shade too brightly in this grump/sunshine mix, but when you do, you’ll chuckle along with Ava’s quips. Supporting characters also shine in their limited page time; Ms. Morgan neatly layers them through Jean’s changing perceptions.

The writing style flows beautifully and is fully engaging, making some slightly complex emotional situations feel fully immersive and immediate. I really enjoyed this book. Oh, and yes, this is plenty spicy too :).

Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to live Jean’s journey in this ARC.

[sapphicliteratureirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author describes this novel as their “love letter to the women who come out in mid or later life”, and it feels like one ❤️ It’s sexy and fun, but also carries an emotional depth that caught me off guard. I found myself smiling at the pages for most of it and I cried twice (I may be soft — did anyone else?) 🥲 It was a brilliant holiday read that I simply couldn’t put down.

The story follows Jean’s perspective in a tone that is sharp and humorous, though after the halfway mark it begins to tug at the heartstrings. A chance meeting in a London bar brings Jean face to face with Ava, and from the opening pages the characterisation and chemistry are spot on. Ava’s flirting is electric, but every interaction between them had my full attention. By 30%, I suspected this might become a favourite sapphic romance — and thankfully, it keeps that pace.

Jean, a no-nonsense, slightly haughty titan of the legal world, collides beautifully with Ava’s warmth, openness and charisma. Watching a woman who has never considered women sexually suddenly find herself enamoured with the night ahead — and then willing to take that leap — was such a joy. It’s rare and refreshing to see this kind of story centred on an older woman ✨️

What begins casually builds into gorgeous, genuinely hot chemistry (🔥🌶), but it’s the emotional development that lingers. Ava knows exactly who she is; this is really Jean’s story of learning to know herself. Her growth arc at 55 years old is beautiful and, at times, painful. The novel thoughtfully highlights the many forces that can stand in the way of recognising one’s sexuality.

There is angst, as Jean has more than a few things to untangle. Some readers may find parts of the story challenging, particularly elements that echo the #MeToo movement, including on-page references to male violence and past SA. The book also explores internalised homophobia and the impact of heteronormative, patriarchal and religious environments with nuance.

Following Jean as she discovers and embraces new facets of herself was wonderful ❤️‍🔥 Her joy, Ava’s joy, and the path they carve out together left me uplifted. It’s a story that reminds us to seize the day.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird. I read this a while back but GR didn’t save my review.

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I previously posted this review, but the version I selected is no longer available? I wanted to make sure this book got the praise it deserved.

In this sapphic age gap romance, Jean is curious and hooks up with Ava. But it soon becomes a regular thing, leaving Jean with questions about herself.

Never would I thought I could read a book with one of the main characters being 50+. I’m 30, and my mom is in her fifties, so it’s been weird in the past. But Lou Morgan has written a masterpiece and the age didn’t bother me at all.

I really liked the way internalized homophobia was portrayed, along with Catholic guilt. It tackled hard topics while being hard to put down. The way Ava takes care of Jean is adorable and honestly is the goal.


Strap In is definitely worth a read!

[fifi fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

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…

[KateJoanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.'

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

exceptional Read it multiple times

[Mr Pink Ink · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Savvysapphicreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked for this book within the first few pages and I honestly could not put it down. I finished it with the day and wow was I gutted when I finished it!
Jean and Ava’s story is beautifully written, and through Jean’s perspective, tells a tale of how coming to the realisation at the age of 55 that you’re not a label you thought you were all your life can be complicated and painful. The book highlights different ways that factors in life can stop you from recognising who you truly are.
The character progression was enlightening, easy to follow and that 3rd act break up scene was cutting but needed for that growth of Jean.
The spice was spicyyyy and anyone who loves a good strap scene needs to read this book - I was blushing! For a book titled strap in - if there wasn’t at least one strap scene I’d have been disappointed but alas, there were multiple.
The book covers some difficult themes including racism, echoes of the MeToo movement with on page references of SA and internalised homophobia.
The conclusion of this book was happy, heart warming and cosy with the path the characters journey ended on

[Kitty]

DNF’d at 45%. No fault of the book, I just didn’t jive with the story.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't sleep on this, it's wonderful!!