Gray Area

Off the Books #3

by Kay Cove

Her ex said she was past her prime. Her younger man begs to differ.

***

Two decades designing couture for the elite, and building a billion-dollar fashion brand, should feel like success. Instead, I have an empty mansion, a fresh divorce settlement, and the sinking feeling that I traded everything meaningful for a life that looks better on social media than it does in the mirror.

When my practically estranged best friend passes away, she leaves me with the one thing my ex-husband never gave me a chance to have—a baby. Well, a soon-to-be baby, currently residing in a surrogate’s belly. Surprise!

Guilt-ridden, and scared to face this alone, cue my desperate funeral plus-one Saylor, an escort with bedroom eyes and a smile that makes me forget I’m supposedly “past my expiration date.” He’s over a decade younger and shouldn’t give me a second glance after the check clears.

Only he does.

And while I’m spiraling over surprise motherhood and the thoughts of launching a new fashion empire, away from the clutches of my ex, this way-too-young-for-me man has the audacity to look at me like I’m the only woman in the world.

“Too old” is what society whispers about women my age starting over. Too old for babies. Too old for new beginnings. Definitely too old for Saylor’s salacious advances that make me feel like a teenager in lust.

But what if the happily ever after isn’t lost, just fashionably late? And what if the unattainable escort couldn’t care less about earning his money, because he’s making a play for my heart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, He Falls First, Fake Dating

368 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[mary ♡⋆ ࣪₊ꫂ᭪݁⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The gray area is when you’re at the end of something awful breaking apart, but you’re also on the cusp of something beautiful coming together.”

I honestly didn’t expect to go into this and cry this much.

This story balances heartache and hope in a way that just works. It felt different from anything I’ve read before, there’s something about it that sticks with you without trying too hard.

The character development was actually insane, especially for that side character I was 100% sure had no redemption arc.

“He kisses my forehead and it already feels different. Familiar. Possessive. Like someone can claim you with their lips pressed just below your hairline. How beautifully simple.”
🥹🥹🥹🥹

what to expect:
💜 reverse age gap
💜 she’s the billionaire
💜 surprise guardian
💜 grief / loss
💜 acts of service

[Kay Cove]

Releasing May 12, 2026!

Pre-order today!
Amazon: https://geni.us/grayarea

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3W7D2JJ

[_goldenchapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Thank you Kay Cove and Valentine PR for this ARC!

Kay Cove did it again, I absolutely loved Saylor and Celeste’s story! This was my first reverse age gap and she’s the billionaire romance, and it didn’t disappoint. Celeste spent a long time in a marriage where she was constantly undervalued and put down, so seeing Saylor come into her life and only see her strength, heart, and worth was refreshing.

What stood out to me was the emotional connection between them. Their relationship was built on genuine support, understanding, and seeing the parts of each other that others overlooked. Even the spice included reflected the vulnerability and trust they shared rather than just physical attraction. Saylor was exactly what Celeste needed during such a heartbreaking time, and I loved how he helped reconnect her to Whitney while also helping her rediscover herself again.

Watching them fight against the odds, work through personal struggles, and slowly build not only their love but also a family together made for an emotional ride.

I truly adored Saylor and Celeste’s story and it’s message from the dedications page: “Throw out the timeline. The best version of yourself doesn’t have a deadline.”

[Dawn Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This was the most emotional book of the series - I had lots of tears, sad and happy - beautifully written.

Saylor carries the weight on his shoulders and wants to take care of everyone around him. He doesn’t see his own worth which broke my heart! He caused 80% of my tears with his words and actions.

Celeste is a badass - simple as that. She finds herself throughout this story and it was refreshing to see her realistic struggles with being older than Saylor, not being creative with her job and honoring her friend who she lost.

I loved the surrogacy storyline and wish we got more of that relationship with Raven who brought amazing comedic relief anytime she was on the page.

Thank you to Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jen Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Cove never disappoints! Gray Area follows Celeste, a billionaire fashion mogul who is starting over after a messy divorce, only to find out she’s been named the guardian of her late best friend’s unborn baby. Enter Saylor, the younger escort she hires as her funeral plus-one who ends up being the ultimate green flag hero and everything she didn't know she was looking for in a partner.

The chemistry between them is absolute fire, but what really got me was the total he falls first energy. Saylor is such a cinnamon roll, and I'm completely here for it! This man had me swooning, giggling and kicking my feet! He is so supportive and sees Celeste in a way no one else ever has, especially as she navigates this unexpected maybe baby situation. It’s a beautiful second-chance-at-life story that proves you’re never past your prime for a new beginning or your happily ever after.

If you love a spicy, billionaire romance with plenty of heart, you need to add this to your TBR immediately. Without a doubt a 5-star read!

[Shannon Mayhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only @authorkaycove could make a series about male escorts and make them so book boyfriend worthy. I absolutely loved this one. A woman in her late 30s whose ex husband makes her feel less than because he is a dirtbag. A younger man who comes in and shows her all she is worth. This story is EVERYTHING! I went through all the emotions and loved every minute of it.

[Fernanda Dzib · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

I had the pleasure of reading this trilogy since the arc of the fist book, and I can’t be more happy and honored to read the last one 🥹✨and also kind of sad because I don’t want to say goodbye to his characters! I learned to love every single one of them and they all have a very special place in my heart ❤️

Now, Celeste and Saylor, oh my god, from the moment I read the blurb at the end of Paper Hearts I knew this was book was going to be my favorite and I was right! Celeste lost her best friend from twenty years Whitney, and when she had to go to the funeral she hires Saylor to go with her, and the tension and chemistry was there from the first second! Before taking about Saylor and Celeste’s relationship, I want to address Celeste’s grief, oh my god my heart broke those first chapters because I could felt Celeste’s pain and grief about losing her best friend so suddenly and even worse because the last time they were together they had a very bad fight and that lead them to be apart for two years, and that’s not all, because Celeste is newly divorced from a man who constantly was trying to make her feel old and who cheated on her so 😩 my girl was having a very hard time but she was trying her best to get through all of that beautifully🥹

Cue to Saylor, oh my god, I love him, I just can’t say anything else about him, he’s so sweet and mature and emotionally mature and responsible and he’s trying to help his mom get better from a very bad accident that let her to be in chronic pain and very little mobility 💔 so reading him struggling to pay his mom medical bills and rent and grocery and everything working three jobs also made my heart broke for him 🥺💔 thankfully, Whitney’s funeral brought them together, and from that moment Saylor was trying to gain Celeste’s heart even when he knew she’s a very successful CEO, older than him and also, trying to gain custody of her best friend’s unborn baby 👀 but let me tell you something, Saylor is THE man, because he was all even before Celeste let her heart win the battle and give him a chance ❤️

I also loved all the characters here, minus Greg hehe, and yup, that includes Eleanor 👀 Ada stole my heart the same way Raven did and I just loved them all, the relationship between Ada and Saylor got me in tears many times and I’m just so happy about her ending ✨

This is definitely my favorite book of the three, and I just want Rina’s book pretty please ✨

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️

I have absolutely adored every couple in this series, but Saylor and Celeste are hands down my favorite.

Saylor completely stole my heart. This man is all about acts of service and making sure the people he loves know exactly how much they mean to him. The way he embraced Celeste, supported her, and constantly showed up for her had me swooning nonstop. Honestly, a man like that is exactly what I want and need in a romance hero.

It was also tough watching Saylor struggle with the guilt he carried from the accident involving him and his mom. You could feel how deeply it affected him throughout the story, which made watching him slowly heal and come out on the other side of that pain even more emotional and rewarding.

And Celeste? I adored her. As the older woman in the relationship, she brought such a different dynamic to the story, and I loved watching her finally get the love and care she deserved after everything she went through with her ex husband. Seeing Saylor help her rediscover herself and bring out parts of her she had hidden away for so long was everything.

This book truly had it all: swoon worthy moments, impeccable spice, grief that hit right in the heart, and so much hope woven throughout the story.

Kay Cove absolutely delivered with this one, and Gray Area is a book I will be recommending to everyone.

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so totally unexpected in the best ways! It was filled with so many emotional moments that had me tearing up into the book!

🩶Reverse age gap
🩶Billionaire FMC
🩶Forced proximity
🩶Fake engagement
🩶Grief and loss

Ever since Celeste’s divorce from her cheating, narcissistic ex, she is trying to find her way. And when she finds out that her best friend has passed away, she hires Saylor, an escort, to be her companion for the funeral. What she doesn’t expect is for her life to change with one conversation.

Saylor has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Her constantly trying to dig his way out of financial stress, while also taking on the burden from his mother’s accident and her consequential pain.

This book is filled so many tearful moments that Kay Cove wrote so heartbreakingly, yet beautifully at the same time. Celeste and Saylor are so far apart in their lives, but when they come together for one goal, their love story transcends their differences!

The friendship between Celeste and Whitney was such a huge and important piece to this book! And Raven’s added hilarity brought a lightness that was needed between all the heavy parts.

I highly recommend!

[Cassies.EndlessReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Her brain has been wiped clean by a twenty-six-year-old Australian who walked into her office, blindfolded her, and performed an act on his knees that should be classified as both a workplace violation and a public service.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️

My god that story was beautiful! Celeste hires a male escort to be by her side at the funeral of her best friend so she isn’t alone, little does she know that will be the best decision of her life. Saylor is only working as a male escort to help pay for his mother’s medical bills, but when he is hired by Celeste, he falls for her hard and fast.
I started crying at about chapter 6, and continued to have these big emotional charges throughout the book as Saylor and Celeste fake an engagement, build a nursery, and fall in love. It’s quiet and messy, it’s beautiful and perfect.

“He kisses my forehead and it already feels different. Familiar. Possessive. Like someone can claim you with their lips pressed just below your hairline. How beautifully simple.”

[Tohfaaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review
4.5⭐

Idk how kay cove make each book better then the last one. I really love the concept of this series.

Our fmc celeste is a divorcee and mmc saylor is a male escort. She hired him for the funeral of her best friend. This book had me giggle and laughing out so many times. The chemistry these two has insane. I finished it in one setting. I love every second of this book. I love every mmc in this series are so considered and thoughtful toward the fmc. I love the way saylor hep celeste to get trough her grieving moment.. I can't wait to read more from kay cove.

Thank you valentine pr for the arc🥰🥰

[Ally G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grab the Kleenex for this one - what a sweet and emotional story. I’m grateful to have the chance to have read this early from Valentine PR. I loved the reverse age gap, fake dating tropes. The chemistry was 🔥 and so was the spice, but there was a journey of grief and loss that was so beautifully done. I enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading more by Kay Cove!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh off a brutal divorce from her unfaithful high school sweetheart, thirty-eight-year-old fashion mogul Celeste should feel free. Instead, she’s never been more alone. When her estranged best friend suddenly dies, Celeste hires an escort, Saylor, to accompany her to the funeral—only to discover her friend has left behind a baby, carried by a surrogate, and a life-changing responsibility Celeste never expected.

As she struggles to balance grief, guardianship, and her billion-dollar empire, Saylor becomes more than just hired help. What starts as support turns into a fake engagement to strengthen her claim for custody—but the lines between real and pretend quickly blur.

Now, Celeste must decide if she’s ready to risk everything for a second chance at motherhood… and love with a man she was never supposed to fall for.

This book was highly entertaining, with strong yet flirty banter and great characters. I especially loved the reverse age gap storyline—it was such a refreshing change. Finally reading a book with a woman my age made for an especially enjoyable experience. I found Celeste relatable in many ways, particularly with her age references and her ’90s childhood memories.

I loved the nods to She’s All That, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Clueless. I watched all three of these movies endlessly when I was younger, so those references really hit home. I found myself laughing out loud as Saylor tried to understand their significance. I also enjoyed the way the story touched on the differences and shared experiences between Millennials and Gen Z.

Celeste is such a boss, and I loved her character. She’s incredibly strong, even while dealing with social anxiety. There are moments where you can really see how her age impacts her self-image as she navigates life as a recently divorced, career-driven woman.

Saylor—oh, Saylor—was a fantastic character for the reverse age gap dynamic. He’s incredibly mature for a twenty-six-year-old, and his love for his mother is heartwarming. His level of maturity really made the story work. Without his life experiences, he could have easily come across as immature, but instead, he’s a wonderful male main character. I especially loved how deeply he cared for Celeste and how patient he was, giving her the time and space to see what he saw in her.

Greg is such a complete tool. I honestly wouldn’t have minded if he disappeared from the story altogether. I’m so glad Celeste left him behind. Kay does an excellent job of writing him as a truly despicable character.

The “gray area” moment—when we learn the meaning behind that phrase—ugh, my heart. It was one of the best parts of the book.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to go back and read the other two books in the Off the Books series. I’ve had Paper Hearts sitting on my Kindle for a while now, but after reading one of Kay Cove’s books, I’m definitely moving it to the top of my list.

Thank you Kay Cove and Valentine PR for a gifted eARC of Gray Area. I really enjoyed this book and the characters!

[Abigail the Reading Pharmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Kay Cove did it again!! I loved Celeste and Saylor's story. We first met Celeste in Role Play and I've been dying for her story ever since.

Celeste is still trying to pick up the pieces of her life after getting a divorce from her husband/high school sweetheart, Greg, after his serial cheating became blatantly obvious. Unfortunately she still has to work with said ex at the fashion company she started. Celeste even chose Greg over her best friend, Whitney, when Whitney couldn't take seeing the way Greg was flirting with every woman in her mid 20s and tried to get Celeste to own up to the truth and leave him. Unfortunately Celeste chose wrong and hasn't spoken to her best friend in 2 years.

One day, Celeste receives the news that her best friend has died and it destroys her. All the things she should have said and all the time she wasted by not having to courage to admit she chose wrong. Celeste is determined to go to the funeral but knows she'll need moral support since she have to deal with Whitney's mother, who never really liked her, as well as the rest of society that will be there. In walks Saylor, escort extraordinare.

Saylor has been doing everything he can. To take care of his mother, who became disabled after a horrific car accident that Saylor feels responsible for. He's working multiple jobs just trying to make ends meet, especially with the added expense of his mother's care and medicine. When Rina tells him she'll pay triple the normal rate, he can't turn it down. Not to mention he's been thinking about Celeste ever since he first saw her.

Celeste gets the surprise of her life when she finds out that Whitney had a surrogate and she was listed as the guardian in Whitney's will. She's in for a fight when Whiteny's mother makes it known that she wants to raise Whitney's child. Celeste needs to prove she has a stable place to raise a baby, which isn't her all glass apartment in the city. Saylor volunteers to fix up her parent's old house as long as he and his mom can stay there.

As other pieces of Celeste's like fall apart, will Celeste get to raise her best friend's baby or will Whitney's mom get custody? What about Saylor and Will? She's older than him but Saylor obviously isn't bothered by it but will Celeste be able to trust him? Will she be able to move past her hangup?

This book was so good. Kay writes her characters so well that it doesn't take long before you are emotionally connected to them. The book moved at great pace and I never felt like it was rushing or dragging .

Kay writes to best MMCs and I always love them for how they are willing to do anything for their girl but also will stand up for them and always remind them that no matter what others have made them feel in the past, they are worthy of love and to be loved in return. There is spice but it only adds to the story. There always seems to be a part in Kay's books that guts me and has me crying and this one was no different.

Gray Area will have you laughing, gasping, yelling, blushing and maybe even shedding a few tears. No matter what though, its definitely a book you should pick up. While Role Play and Paper Hearts, the other 2 books in the series don't have to be read to understand Gray Area, the characters from the 1st two books to make cameos in Gray Area, so you might as well go ahead and read them too! 🤣🤣


**I was given a free advanced readers copy by Valentine PR for an honest review. I was under no obligation to rate this book a certain raiting. These are my own honest thoughts on the book**

[Leahspinkpages · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For everyone who was told they were too old to start over, too late to begin again, too far gone to want something new”

When I say this book was top read for me this year I mean it. When you are going through things in life and you feel that you have to have a time frame for events in your life to occur let me tell you we are absolutely wrong at how we are living our lives. Grieving is a tricky part of life when we lose someone so close to our heart we don’t know how we can move forward with our lives but with Grief also comes the unknown and the unexpected with love and continuing to live life . Little did Celeste know that this would be her new reality. 🩷

Celeste is our amazing , powerful , strong , hardworking woman who has built an amazing line of fashion but she has just lost her best friend Whitney and she doesn’t know how to handle this loss. They were not just best friends but they were sisters. She feels that her world has already fallen apart with an ex husband who didn’t value her and making her feel that she wasn’t worthy to feeling alone and adding a divorce on top of that what makes her think that adding a surprise that she never saw coming which is becoming a mother. Her best friend was having a baby via surrogacy and it’s something Celeste always wanted. How would Celeste get through all of this if she hadn’t hired Saylor to accompany her. She realizes that maybe having his company isn’t such a bad thing for her

Saylor my man my man my man 😍I firmly believe age is nothing but number this man he was so understanding loving , mature , caring, responsible. Learning the why he was an escort pulled at my heart He began working as an escort to help take care of the medical bills for his mother and help ensure that anything she needed was taken care of . He puts everyone he loves first . He saw something in Celeste that she didn’t see in herself and that made him want to have her even more for him she was everything he wanted not because of who she was or what she had but because of the heart Celeste had as a woman .

To see how supportive he is for Celeste and in wanting to make sure she knows how involved he wants to be in the baby’s life they being fake engaged is one of my favorite tropes to see how their chemistry blossomed more and more after every page turn was chiefs kiss and this book wrecked me in all the ways and I am so glad I could see how Celeste let her walls down and realized that Saylor is the man for her .

“That’s love by choice. No strings.”

Thank you Valentine Pr for this amazing chance to read this early and to Kay cove for writing a book and letting us know that there is no time limit and when our life begins 🙌🏽🩷

Tropes

Reverse Age Gap
Surprise Guardian
Grief/Loss
She’s the Billionaire
Acts of Service
He Falls First

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Cove has once again written a lovely story with the best green flag man to fall in love with.😍

The Gray Area is a bit of a slow burn, but when the feelings hit, they hit hard. I was all in on Saylor from the beginning, as he's a huge cinnamon roll who is extremely easy to like. He takes care of his mother full time, works multiple jobs to keep everything afloat, and easily cares about others in his orbit. He's sweet, caring, and just a super nice guy. Like I said, he's super easy to fall for. Unless you're Celeste, but I had to give her a break because she's been down a tough road and it isn't Saylor himself that she doesn't like, it's that she just doesn't have the bandwidth to spare to allow him into her very limited emotional orbit.

Celeste has been bitten by love before, and not in a fun or nice way. Her ex did her dirty, all while cutting her down and simultaneously cheating on her for years. Celeste is no wallflower, as she's a successful business owner and fashion designer, but her love life is non-existent and at the present she isn’t looking for love, much less a younger man to fill any particular needs. However, Saylor is practically impossible not to like, especially when he's just being himself 😍. He craves to take care of her, it's basically in his DNA. So when he knows she needs help, he just can't help himself by lending a hand.

Celeste has been waiting for years for her life to begin while her ex pushed her aside, and now she's ready to begin while everything is sort of falling apart. But during this gray area of her life, her bright light is Saylor. Their story is beautiful, but also angsty, for both Saylor and Celeste, but well worth it in the end.👌💋

To me, The Gray Area could be best stated that it's about forging ahead in life, spinning your wheels with the day to day, thinking, "maybe tomorrow is when I'll do....." whatever that plan is that's been held off for a break or a moment of rest, but that break never comes. You know, those moments that we all put off for the next day or the next. Well, both Saylor and Celeste were doing the same, but they were also lucky enough to find one another while living in the gray and even though it may not have seemed like the perfect time to meet someone new, sometimes it actually is. Especially when you find the person who can see beyond the day to day noise and actually see into the beautiful horizon. 😍❤️

[Briana smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinity stars😭😭😭

This was my first Kay Cove book and this will not be my last cause my GOODNESS. That was so beautiful🥹

Celeste and Saylor....wow yep. Im in love. I need a movie of this like asap. Please. The way I had every emotion possible within the span of 5 minutes. I was leaking like a faucet one minute and then laughing while said tears were still coming. This was devastating, heartbreaking, gutwrenching but so beautiful.

After Celeste lost her bestfriend to something so tragic and then having to live with not talking to her for a few years before was so hard. Then grieving all to turn out shes going to be a mom to her bestfriends baby that she had a surrogate carry? Yep😀 the tears were leaking 😀 My GOD!!!! The way this girl went through the worst marriage, lost her bestfriend, her life she built in her company was slipping and having a baby to come in her like (to have that be a constant battle as well)... I wanted to hug her and love her hard. She was so badass, she was so strong and the way she fought was so seen.

Saylor. The man that you are. He came in just to help a grieving woman feel not so alone. He helped her instantly feel warm by his help at the funeral. He put his life on hold to help her with this baby. What a man honestly. I honestly forgot there was a age gap half the time cause he was so mature. But that age gap....REVERSE AGE GAP? COME ON!!!! Panties? Evaporated 🙂 He was so gentle, so kind and so patient. He helped her open up to new things and showed her she was worthy of love, she was starting a new life.
The way this man stepped up made me CHOKE. He did everything for Celeste no questions asked while he had a shitstorm of his own.

Two people who deserved to be parents. The ending was so gorgeous and I just once again had too many tears shed. I love them. 🥹

“I’m your boat too. That’s how it works. We don’t just save each other. We refuse to let the other one drown.”

"The gray area is when you’re at the end of something awful breaking apart, but you’re also on the cusp of something beautiful coming together. All you can do is sit with it. That’s hard for a lot of people, to have hope when everything seems bleak.”

“The gray area isn’t so bleak if you’re sitting in it with the right person.”

Thank you vpr and Kay Cove for this earc 🥹

[Emily Hawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC and my honest review is below - thank you to Kay Cove and ValentinePR for the eARC.
My rating: 4.5 stars.

Saylor is young, but he doesn't act like it (save for one moment in the book where I was reminded). Celeste thinks she's past her prime but Saylor is here to convince her that there is no such thing. I loved their dynamic, their ability to communicate, that even though Saylor was the younger one he was often the more mature/insightful person in this relationship - overall I think Kay Cove put together (yet another) fantastic book. There were SO MANY things working against them as a couple and yet they never gave up on each other, and they always talked through their problems (or at least indicated that they weren't ready to talk about it yet). I wish we'd gotten a little more depth into how their relationship bloomed. It felt a little like they went from 0 to 100 in terms of how smitten they were, but it wasn't quite to the instalove level. Saylor was calm and constant in this book - yes he had his share of issues he was dealing with (which I think made his character more relatable), but he was always present, always showing up when he was needed, and I loved that.

Eleanor was one of my favorite characters in this book - she was often described as shallow or callus or mean or whatever, but the moments where Celeste saw that exterior crack and saw her show emotion were truly wonderful. . I felt like the ending of the book was well built up to. It didn't feel like a cop-out when Eleanor granted Celeste custody of Whit's baby. Instead it felt like a mother finally realizing what she could do to honor her child and repair relationships and do what was best for her grandchild. . I honestly wish we'd gotten a little bit more with Raven's character (am I crazy to hope Kay will make her a FMC in the future??). She was such a bright spot in the book, constantly trying to do what was best, but never changing herself to fit the mold that was expected. I loved her. Greg was truly the worst - not only an asshole to Celeste, but also a terrible "manager" of the buisiness that she built. Eleanor buying him out and then being the investor for Celeste to continue with her company is honestly the most full circle, wonderful ending I can think of. .

[Angie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING!!

Celeste is a thirty-eight year old fashion mogul who has recently divorced her high school sweetheart who couldn't be faithful if he tried. He is also her business partner so she can't get away from him and his cheating ways. When her best friend she has been estranged from for the past two years (due to her ex-husband) suddenly dies, Celeste hires an escort named Saylor to accompany her to the funeral. Celeste is stunned when she finds out her best friend was having a baby via surrogate and has named her the baby's guardian.

Celeste is struggling! Her ex-husband has told her she's "too old", her best friend has died, she's trying to prepare for a baby she wasn't expecting and her company is nearing bankruptcy. She doesn't know how to deal with all of the changes that are going on in her life. Now, this hunk of a man, Saylor wants to help her deal with everything, but he's twelve years younger that her. He can't begin to know what he wants out of life.

Should Celeste take a chance and see what can happen when she let's go and starts living again?

This book was gut wrenching! The way Kay wrote about the relationship between Celeste and Whitney had made me crying both happy and sad tears. Whitney was the one person that saw Celeste for who she was and who she could be. Everyone deserves a friend like that.

Greg is a man no woman needs in her life. He is a complete scumbag. He cheats, he makes Celeste feel small and unlovable. I was so happy when Celeste finally told him off!

Saylor is the man so many of us want! He's sexy, he takes care of his mom and wants to give Celeste the things Greg never even thought to give her. Things that money can't buy.

I love how Kay reminds us that now matter what we need to tell the people that mean the most to us just how much we love them. Also, that people will kick us when we are down. We just have to have the courage to get back up. The right person will come along to show us that what we thought was the end might just be the beginning of something we never knew we deserved.

I'm so glad I was picked as an ARC reader. Thank you! I can't wait to see where the next book in the series takes us.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that is about to be released on May 12th called, Gray Area. Celeste has spent the last 20 years of her life building a successful fashion company. Now she is almost 40, divorced from her cheating high school sweetheart, and just found out her estranged best friend passed away. Not wanting to go to the funeral by herself, she hires Saylor to accompany her. Saylor is over 10 years younger than her, but he is used to taking care of people and is exactly who she needs beside her to get through the funeral. Especially when she finds out her best friend was having a baby via surrogate, and that Celeste was the one named in her will to get the baby if something happened to her. As she is trying to wrap her head around how she could possibly balance motherhood and her fashion company, Saylor inserts himself into her life to support and help her. He doesn't see age, he just sees her. Celeste has obstacles in front of her but she wonders if she could possibly have everything she wants; her company, a baby, a second chance at love, and finally a family of her own.
This was such a beautifully written book, Celeste has multiple uphill battles in this book but she is strong, resilient, and willing to fight for the life she wants. Saylor was such a sweet character with so much depth. The way he stepped up and became the partner Celeste needed without her asking and giving her the love and support she deserved, was so beautiful. The chemistry and connection between them was so genuine and heartfelt. I was so invested in their story and eager to see them get their happy ending! This reverse age gap romance has banter and spice but also deals with grief, starting over, and emotional healing. I love Kay's books so much, the emotion and heart she puts into them, they blow me away every time!
Also, I recreated Saylor and Celeste's first date for my review pics. This was all waiting when she got home from work (he was recreating a sleepover in college like she used to have with her best friend) it was so incredibly sweet! (See pics on my bookstagram!) 💜📚

Thank you Kay Cove, Page & Vine, & Valentine PR for this physical ARC & eARC of Gray Area.

[Midnights Bookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gray Area Review 👗🛠️

I am completely obsessed with Kay Cove. I’ve already read a few of her books, and I truly don’t have enough words for them. I did receive an ARC for Gray Area, and I want to thank Kay and Valentine PR for sending it to me!

I looooooved that we got to know more about Celeste in this book. We saw glimpses of her in the previous ones, but here we learn everything about her, and one thing I can say is: WHAT A WOMAN!

Celeste has always been passionate about fashion. She built her business from the ground up, and she still loves creating and designing. But there’s no doubt that her ex-husband completely destroyed her confidence, and the fact that she still has to work with him and witness his indiscretions every day definitely doesn’t help. And then Saylor enters her life.

As we already know, Saylor is an escort. But he is also a loving son, an amazing man, and a genuinely good person. He and his mom moved from Australia to the US following a con man, lost everything they had, and are now barely making ends meet, but they are doing their best to survive.

When Celeste needs a companion for an event she never thought she would have to attend, Saylor is the one hired to go with her. And only a few hours together are enough for him to realize how special she is, and he simply can’t let her go. So he doesn’t.

Celeste is understandably skeptical about Saylor’s interest in her, but every time she truly needs someone, he is there. When she needs help, he helps. When she needs a shoulder to cry on, he supports her. And even when she doesn’t need anything at all and simply wants to be with him, he is more than happy to stay by her side.

This book made me cry, this book made me laugh, and this book made me believe in love. It also reminded me that maybe, if you feel like you’re never going to find the right person, it could just be because your soulmate hasn’t even been born yet (kidding).

What I’m absolutely not kidding about is how much I love this couple, this series, and this author.

Celeste and Saylor completely stole my heart, and if I could give this book a thousand stars, I would. But for now, it’s an easy 5 ⭐️ read for me, and I’m already dreaming about Rina’s book.👗🛠️

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good reverse age gap and Saylor was steady as can be with his conviction that Celeste was the one he was waiting for. This book had a lot of ups and downs but through it all was a woman who thought her story was over but was actually just beginning.

Celeste is a fashion designer who has always lived with money. Post divorce Celeste is just going through the motions. When she finds out her soul sister, whom she has not spoken to in 2 years, has died, Celeste needs someone to lean on during the funeral. In walks Saylor, an escort who has always been aware of her but is in awe of her after meeting her officially for the first time.

Saylor was so straight forward with his intentions of Celeste, that I was in awe of his tenacity. This man did not see age when he saw Celeste, he saw a woman he wanted to get close to and was finally able to explore his interest. Saylor taking care of his mom hit me right in the feels. This man had so much depth to him and I loved it!

Celeste was hanging by a thread in this book, everything coming down around her and Saylor was her life raft, a chance to really write her own story. Her ex husband was literal garbage and every time he opened his mouth in this book, he gave me the ick. With the progression of this book, and the backbone Celeste finally grows, I was cheering for this woman and how her character developed. Also, the fact that Celeste got to feel like a woman again with a man who worshipped her in every aspect. Saylor showed her what it was like to be desired and have a partner through the good and the bad.

I also cried a little in the fact of the talk of guardianship and raising a baby the neither Celeste, nor Whit (her soul sister) got to have growing up themselves: parents that loved them and were there for them in moments that mattered. That money and prestige were not the most important things. That the baby would know love and know that there were people in their corner no matter what.

Thank you to Kay Cove and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Tropes:
💜Reverse age gap
💜She’s the billionaire
💜Surprise guardian
💜Grief + loss
💜Acts of service

[NewariMaicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Kay Cove and Valentine PR for eARC!!

It took me a second to realize this Celeste was the same one from Role Play, and I loved that connection. You don’t have to read the previous books to enjoy Gray Area, but I’d still recommend it for the full pictureespecially since this story flips the usual trope with an escort MMC finding love, which was done so well here.

Celeste and Saylor completely carried this story for me. Celeste is a creative, driven designer who’s trying to rebuild her life after a divorce, all while dealing with social anxiety. She’s strong but still very real, and I loved watching her slowly come back into herself. And Saylor was such a standout. He’s younger, but incredibly mature, and the way he shows up for Celeste is everything. He’s patient, steady, and so caring, especially with how devoted he is to his mom. He doesn’t rush anything and gives Celeste the space she needs, which made their relationship feel genuine and really meaningful.

Their connection grows from an unexpected meeting into something deeper, and I loved how natural it felt. The story has a great balance of humor, emotion, and flirty banter. The reverse age gap was such a refreshing change, and Celeste felt especially relatable, from her mindset to the little nostalgic details. Watching Celeste find her confidence again and finally feel seen and desired was one of my favorite parts. Saylor doesn’t just love her, he supports her and helps her step into her own strength. And I really liked how Kay incorporated the concept of gray area at the perfect timing.

My only small wish was to see more of the group dynamic from the first book. We get a glimpse, but I would’ve loved a bit more of that found-family feel. Overall, this was such a heartfelt and engaging read with strong characters and a relationship that really delivers.

Rating: 4.5⭐

Tropes: Reverse age gap, she’s the billionaire, surprise guardian, grief & loss, acts of service

Favorite Quote: The problem with cruel people is not that they lie. It’s that they aim their cruelty at the exact spot where your own doubt already lives, and then all they have to do is agree with it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Young, old—those are states of mind. But beauty is completely transcendent of numbers.”

Gray Area was such a beautifully emotional read, and it touched my heart in so many ways. Celeste and Saylor’s journeys—both individually and together—were filled with heartbreak, self discovery, hope, and the kind of quiet rebirth that feels so real. I loved them both deeply, and the growth we see in every single character felt honest and meaningful.

“For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m building something that I actually want to see finished.

Saylor is one of those characters who carries so much more than he lets on. He spends his days caring for his mother and his nights working as an escort, and the weight of his past is almost suffocating him. The guilt, the fear, the pain—it’s all right there beneath the surface. And yet he still manages to be this steady, grounding presence for the people around him, especially Celeste. He’s kind, thoughtful, and so much stronger than he believes. Watching him slowly figure out what he wants from life and finally allow himself to let go of the past was such a beautiful, emotional journey. I couldn’t help but fall for him.

“Celeste is…a lot. In all the right ways.”

Celeste was incredibly relatable. She’s coming out of a failing marriage, a broken friendship, and a business that’s barely staying afloat. She’s standing in the middle of a life she no longer recognizes, and then she receives news that forces her to reevaluate everything. Her journey hit me so hard—the way she felt like life was already behind her, when really she was just beginning again. Seeing her open up, let her guard down, and rediscover who she is was so moving and so real.

“We don’t just save each other. We refuse to let the other one drown.”

Gray Area is easily the most emotional book in the series. It handles sensitive topics with so much care and compassion, and the story is full of heartbreak, angst, grief, loss, hope, and love. The characters are phenomenal, the emotions are raw and honest, and this is absolutely a story you don’t want to miss.

[Sarah Slusarczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next installment in the Off the Books series by Kay Cove is here. Gray Area is the third book in the series and what a book it is. There is a little bit of everything in this book, from love and loss, to starting over again, to surprise baby to starting all over again. I was prepared to like this book, because frankly I really enjoy the author, but I wasn’t expecting to get as emotional about it as I did. It was that good!

Celeste is a woman who has worked her tushie off for the things that she has, but that has come at a cost. After finalizing a messy end to her marriage, Celeste finds herself a surprise guardian to her late best-friend (a best friend she hasn’t seen in forever) unborn baby. Weird right? But Celeste takes it all in stride, this could be her last chance to have the baby her ex always denied her. But before all that she has to get through the funeral, so she does the only thing she can think of. She hires an escort. Enter Saylor, the much younger cinnamon roll who seems to find her completely perfect. Together, these two start a journey that will change each other's lives, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t test them at times. Saylor has his own baggage, and Celeste, well lets just say age isn’t always just a number.

I LOVE Saylor! The man is a giant, supportive, energetic teddy bear that we all need in our own lives. He loves to love, he is so kind and caring and sees Celeste for who she is rather than her fame and money. He had me smiling and happy for so much of this book, well up until I was crying into my Oreo’s for how sad he then made me. It was a roller coaster, let me tell you. Celeste is a girls girls, she is strong and fierce, but also kinda lonely. With Saylor and the new baby she starts to think that starting new may not be such a bad thing after all. But can she let him into her heart? Does she really want to be a new Mom at her age? Does Saylor really want her? Read and find out fellow readers!

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Tropes:

💜 Reverse Age Gap
👜 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🍼 Surprise Baby (Surrogate)
💜 Second Chance at life

[b cozy book lounge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gray Area completely pulled me in ,this book had emotion, heartbreak, healing, and a beautiful slow-burn romance that had me fully invested.

Celeste is a 38-year-old top fashion designer struggling after a very public divorce from her cheating husband and years of betrayal. Emotionally drained and creatively stuck, she is forced to face even more heartbreak when she learns her estranged best friend has passed away, a friendship she lost years earlier after choosing her husband over the friend who had tried to warn her.

When Celeste attends the funeral, she discovers her friend has left behind something unexpected: responsibility for a baby through a surrogate, something her best friend’s controlling mother is determined to fight her on. Suddenly, Celeste finds herself battling grief, guilt, and a custody fight while trying to prove she can provide a loving home.

Needing support for the funeral, Celeste hires an escort through a service she’s been using for public appearances since her divorce, enter Saylor.

Saylor, 26, is juggling three jobs, barely sleeping, and caring for his mother after a serious accident left her struggling with chronic pain. Despite having very little, he has such a huge heart. What started as an arrangement slowly turns into something so much deeper as he becomes fully invested in helping Celeste fight for the baby and create a stable home.

Watching Saylor help fix up Celeste’s neglected childhood house and quietly show up for her in all the ways that mattered completely melted me. He sees the woman behind the walls, the heartbreak, and the carefully controlled image she shows the world.

This is such a beautiful slow burn. The age gap, financial differences, and emotional baggage between them added depth rather than drama, and I loved how thoughtfully it was handled. Celeste is guarded for so many understandable reasons, while Saylor is patient, caring, and emotionally supportive in a way that felt so genuine.

This book made me cry, smile, and gave me so many emotional “aww” moments. The vulnerability, healing, and character depth were written so beautifully, I was completely invested in their journey.

[ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴀɴɪᴇ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✧ ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ! ✧
↬ 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙮 𝙆𝙖𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙍 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾.
★ 𝙄 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 2.94 𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙤𝙛 487 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨, 𝙨𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬. ★

❝𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐤.❞

ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ɪꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴀʀᴇᴀ—ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇꜱ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰᴇʟʟ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇ ʏᴇᴛ.
ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴏʟᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ, ᴛᴏᴏ ʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇɢɪɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ᴛᴏᴏ ꜰᴀʀ ɢᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡ.
ᴛʜʀᴏᴡ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.

✧ ʀᴇᴠᴇʀꜱᴇ ᴀɢᴇ ɢᴀᴘ
✧ ɢʀɪᴇꜰ/ʟᴏꜱꜱ
✧ ʜᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟꜱ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ
✧ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ
✧ ʙɪʟʟɪᴏɴᴀɪʀᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✧ ᴀᴄᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴇʀᴠɪᴄᴇ
✧ ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇ ɢᴜᴀʀᴅɪᴀɴ

𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬 & 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲.

Gray Area has my favorite storyline in the Off the Books series. It’s gut-wrenching, heartfelt, and everything in between. I devoured this book in just a few hours because I simply couldn’t put it down.

Saylor uses humor as a shield to hide the weight he carries on his shoulders. He’s driven and determined, and completely obsessed and possessive when it comes to Celeste. He also has an incredible boss and an amazing group of friends whose unwavering support adds so much depth to the story. I honestly can’t get enough of them.

Celeste struggles with social anxiety, is newly divorced, and then faces the devastating loss of a longtime friend while trying to balance her career and manage a grieving mother. She’s endured enough pain for a lifetime, but Saylor becomes her safe place. I absolutely adore them together, and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart.

And finally, my favorite supporting character is definitely Rina. I’m truly hoping she gets her own story because I would love to see her finally get the happily ever after she deserves. Please and thank you.

[Rayya O'Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟 1.5🌶

I received Gray Area as an ARC! Thank you to @valentine_pr_ and @authorkaycove

What to expect?
-Slow burn.. and I mean.. SLOW. But when you notice that shift? Its everything. 🥵🔥
-Reverse Age Gap; She's older by 12 years. 💅🏽
-Character Development🖤
-Grief and Healing
-Emotional🥺
-Inexperienced FMC (she is newly divorced and was with the same man for 20 years)

This was such a beautifully written book that was much more than just a romance. It was a hard journey of grief, love, dependence, guilt, self discovery and rewriting everything you once knew. It's a beautifully emotional story of deep, unending and unconditional trust.

"The gray area is when you're at the end of something awful breaking apart, but you're also on the cusp of something beautiful coming together. All you can do is sit with it."

The FMC is strong, talented, well established and highly intelligent. Given everything she has experienced, she now knows to establish her boundaries and not settle for any less. Her whole world is turned upside and down and this is her journey of navigating her new reality. She also has to rewrite her perspective, after years of being told shes past her prime and too old for anything, she learns that this isnt true. With the help of Saylor (MMC) and her best friend.

The MMC is smart, he's hardworking to the point he is EXHAUSTED. He does everything for his mum. He's guilt ridden, and his journey is one of not only love, but forgiving himself and finding his way in love too. Its a slow burn but when the spice hits? Its fantastic.

There's a quote in this book about crying, but not because you're sad, but because crying is the only release valve big enough to vent/express the emotions that you're feeling. That are too big for anything else. I felt that deeply.

Thank you so much for this ARC because it was somewhat of a healing experience for me too.

#selflove #agegapromance #billionaireromance #grief #slowburnromance

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Maternal isn't some gene you're born with. It's not a personality type. It's the willingness to carry something that matters more than you do and try your best even when you're terrified." <— this quote broke me.

👠 Reverse Age Gap
🔨 He Falls First
👠 She’s the Billionaire
🔨 Fake Engagement
👠 Surprise Guardian
🔨 Grief/Loss

Kay Cove seriously just straight up punches me with ALL the emotions. 🤭😂. I laughed, mostly cried, felt the weight of internal struggles and really wanted the ex husband to fall down an elevator shaft <— ya know just the usual feelings lol

Celeste is a fashion industry icon who, mostly due to her ex husband/current business partner always telling her she was “past her prime” make to “make space for someone younger” (he’s her age btw and loves young interns 🙄), had become a shell of who she was, struggling with inspiration, not only for new designs, but in herself. When she gets the news that her estranged best friend has passed away and wants her to be her child’s guardian she is determined to honor her wishes.
Enter Saylor, a male escort/bouncer/bartender who takes care of his mom who suffers from chronic pain stemming from an accident. His latest job is to escort Celeste to the funeral and ahhhh that man is so sweet! I bawled during the eulogy and I’m tearing up now just remembering it.

I absolutely love when a character, especially a FMC, starts out a shell of themselves and slowly remembers who tf they are! I swooned over how he actually saw her past the armor she always wore. He believed in her and was there when she most needed him. Their connection was heartwarming, the banter was so good, the spice was…let me just say when those blinds went down 🥵🥵 && the epilogue! I loved everything about this book and I’m excited for what Kay has coming next!

[Simone ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you so so much to the incredible Kay for allowing me to ARC read this one the excitement I felt when I saw this hit my inbox was NEXT LEVEL and I adored this from start to finish, Celeste & Saylor’s story was so beautiful yet full of flirty fun 🤭

Trying to explain everything I loved about this read is going to be hard but my top has to be the family element and how family is so important to these characters, I adored seeing Celeste, Saylor & Ada become their own unique little family even though it was never in Celeste’s conscious plans - I loved seeing all of these wonderful people come together to not only support each other & care for each other but to truly see, appreciate and love each other no matter what, I adored how natural their bonds were and how effortlessly they all worked together especially Saylor and Celeste because for me they were perfect for each other from the moment Saylor drove Celeste car to stop her being a hazard on the road 😅

Now I have to admit I wasn’t expecting this one to be as emotional as it was but it had me in my feelings the entire time and I loved every second of it; I laughed, I cried, I blushed & I squealed but I never wanted this read to stop. I adored getting to learn more about Whitney and the sisterhood she had with Celeste and I loved how they were portrayed within the read, they are the perfect example of female friendships to me and I could easily see some of my own relationships within their dynamic & they reminded me to be grateful for my people and to remind them how much I appreciate them because life is shorter than we think 🥹

Overall, everything about this was perfection; from Celeste’s confidence to Saylor’s compassion. I adored this more than life & I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!