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To Love the Stars too Fondly
Five years ago, Terra Stern watched the love of her life die.
The screams, the gunshots, the cold concrete—all of it haunts her, and grief is a shadow she can't escape.
Nowadays, she's barely holding it together behind the counter at Tortalgan Coffee Co, her patience tested daily by Alex Winthrop, a devastatingly attractive but obnoxious heiress with a teasing grin and terrible taste in coffee. But when a stalker harasses Terra at her place of work, Alex steps in, and Terra feels something she hasn’t felt since that awful, fateful night: safe. After a shared kiss—well, maybe a little more than a kiss—on a stormy night, something beautiful begins to blossom.
But Alex has scars as well, and Terra's path of self-destruction comes with dangerous consequences. Is love truly enough to heal? Or will their mutual secrets drive them apart?
The screams, the gunshots, the cold concrete—all of it haunts her, and grief is a shadow she can't escape.
Nowadays, she's barely holding it together behind the counter at Tortalgan Coffee Co, her patience tested daily by Alex Winthrop, a devastatingly attractive but obnoxious heiress with a teasing grin and terrible taste in coffee. But when a stalker harasses Terra at her place of work, Alex steps in, and Terra feels something she hasn’t felt since that awful, fateful night: safe. After a shared kiss—well, maybe a little more than a kiss—on a stormy night, something beautiful begins to blossom.
But Alex has scars as well, and Terra's path of self-destruction comes with dangerous consequences. Is love truly enough to heal? Or will their mutual secrets drive them apart?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2026
About the author
S.D. Simper
23 books920 followersSD Simper is a bestselling horror author, award-winner of fantasy romance, and understands that the true secret to writing great villains is living with cats. She and her wife share a home with four cats, a Great Dane, and innumerable bookshelves.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Autre
It’s not fluffy. Both MCs have dark past tainted with trauma or addiction. Simper spared the reader with most of the darkness happening in the past, off scene. I liked than none of them were perfect and saying they have a lot to deal with is an euphemism. Terra’s coping mechanism is heterosexual sex and ends up with psychos in her life. I was rooting for them, It felt like I was watching a movie from the 90’s where the MC is being saved by some mysterious bad boy who needs saving just as much, only in sapphic version and a bit too dark for me. The saving each other trope is something I delight in. The sex scenes are really spicy, even if I wasn’t a fan of the strap-on play at times. I was a bit frustrated in the end. I thought Alex’s trauma and bipolarity deserved to be fully addressed. They still both have a lot to go through wheter it’s on a personal level or professional level for Terra. Overall a pretty dark novel that left me sometimes uncomfortable and wanting for a more polished ending. Good news is, according to the author’s note, there is indeed more..Just wished I knew it before.
September 8, 2026
I finished this last week and I still don't really know how I feel about. I don't have any strong negative or positive feelings, nothing that really sticks out which is why I landed on a 3 star rating. I think part of why my feelings are complicated is because one of the FMCs has bipolar disorder, as do I, and is on almost the exact same medication cocktail I am and I just have complicated feelings about the way bipolar is portrayed in media. This is definitely on the better side of bipolar representation in that it doesn't romanticize it and shows what real consequences of mania can look like without villianizing the character. It's hard to believe at this moment that they'll last simply because saying you'll be there for someone through mania is great, but we haven't actually seen that happen yet so I'm holding out the jury if they'll last until we see follow through. Luckily, it seems like this is a series and we'll see this couple in the next book, which I am excited about.
Review of advance copy
2.75 ⭐
Going into this book, I honestly expected it to be much darker than it ended up being. With the number of trigger warnings, I was preparing myself for something emotionally devastating. Surprisingly, though, it wasn't nearly as heavy as I expected, at least by my standards. Most of the traumatic events happen before the story begins, so the focus is really on the aftermath and how the characters learn to live with everything they've been through.
Healing romances have always been one of my favorite subgenres, and somehow this ended up being my first book by this author. I was genuinely excited to finally give their work a try. Unfortunately, I don't think this one was quite the right fit for me.
One thing I did appreciate was how messy and complicated the characters were. This definitely isn't a conventional romance, and that's clearly intentional. I can absolutely see why many readers would connect with that approach. Personally, though, I struggled more with the execution than with the ideas themselves.
Terra's story completely broke my heart. Everything she endured was horrific, and I appreciated that the book portrayed her hypersexuality as a coping mechanism rather than reducing it to a personality trait. Watching her slowly confront those experiences was one of the stronger parts of the novel. That said, I wasn't a huge fan of the intimate scenes. The "strap worship" moments, in particular, didn't really work for me because they often felt like they were there to match the emotional intensity of the story instead of adding something meaningful to the relationship. That's definitely a personal preference, but I tend to enjoy spicy scenes most when they deepen the emotional connection between the characters.
I also liked seeing Terra reconnect with her identity as a lesbian after everything she had survived. Still, I found myself wanting a little more from her overall character journey. She talks about leaving college behind and not wanting to stay a barista forever, but those dreams never really go anywhere. Considering everything she was dealing with, I understand why healing took priority, but I still hoped to see her start rebuilding other parts of her life as well.
Since the story is told entirely through Terra's perspective, Alex ended up feeling much less developed. We learn about her bipolar disorder and hear bits and pieces about her past, but so much of her story stays just beneath the surface. Her body image struggles, the scar on her arm, and her complicated family history all felt like they deserved more exploration. By the end, she still felt more like someone we were observing through Terra than a fully fleshed-out co-lead.
The romance was probably where I struggled the most. Although Terra and Alex had known of each other for about a year through the café, they barely interacted until Alex defended Terra from a stalker. From there, everything moved very quickly. I understand that shared trauma can intensify emotional connections, but for me, it felt more like insta-love wrapped in trauma than a relationship that developed naturally. I never quite felt the emotional buildup that made me believe in their love. But again, that's mostly because insta-love has never really been my thing.
One other aspect that left me wanting more was how Alex's relationship with her body was portrayed. It felt like the story leaned into the stereotype of the butch woman who's always the giver, always in control, and never allowed to express her own physical vulnerability. I kept hoping that dynamic would shift at some point because it made Alex feel more like an ideal than a complete person.
At the end of the day, I know this book simply wasn't written for a reader like me, and that's completely okay. I can absolutely see why it would resonate with others, especially if you enjoy unconventional healing romances with deeply flawed characters. Even though it didn't fully work for me, I still think it's worth giving a chance because you may end up connecting with these characters far more than I did.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Going into this book, I honestly expected it to be much darker than it ended up being. With the number of trigger warnings, I was preparing myself for something emotionally devastating. Surprisingly, though, it wasn't nearly as heavy as I expected, at least by my standards. Most of the traumatic events happen before the story begins, so the focus is really on the aftermath and how the characters learn to live with everything they've been through.
Healing romances have always been one of my favorite subgenres, and somehow this ended up being my first book by this author. I was genuinely excited to finally give their work a try. Unfortunately, I don't think this one was quite the right fit for me.
One thing I did appreciate was how messy and complicated the characters were. This definitely isn't a conventional romance, and that's clearly intentional. I can absolutely see why many readers would connect with that approach. Personally, though, I struggled more with the execution than with the ideas themselves.
Terra's story completely broke my heart. Everything she endured was horrific, and I appreciated that the book portrayed her hypersexuality as a coping mechanism rather than reducing it to a personality trait. Watching her slowly confront those experiences was one of the stronger parts of the novel. That said, I wasn't a huge fan of the intimate scenes. The "strap worship" moments, in particular, didn't really work for me because they often felt like they were there to match the emotional intensity of the story instead of adding something meaningful to the relationship. That's definitely a personal preference, but I tend to enjoy spicy scenes most when they deepen the emotional connection between the characters.
I also liked seeing Terra reconnect with her identity as a lesbian after everything she had survived. Still, I found myself wanting a little more from her overall character journey. She talks about leaving college behind and not wanting to stay a barista forever, but those dreams never really go anywhere. Considering everything she was dealing with, I understand why healing took priority, but I still hoped to see her start rebuilding other parts of her life as well.
Since the story is told entirely through Terra's perspective, Alex ended up feeling much less developed. We learn about her bipolar disorder and hear bits and pieces about her past, but so much of her story stays just beneath the surface. Her body image struggles, the scar on her arm, and her complicated family history all felt like they deserved more exploration. By the end, she still felt more like someone we were observing through Terra than a fully fleshed-out co-lead.
The romance was probably where I struggled the most. Although Terra and Alex had known of each other for about a year through the café, they barely interacted until Alex defended Terra from a stalker. From there, everything moved very quickly. I understand that shared trauma can intensify emotional connections, but for me, it felt more like insta-love wrapped in trauma than a relationship that developed naturally. I never quite felt the emotional buildup that made me believe in their love. But again, that's mostly because insta-love has never really been my thing.
One other aspect that left me wanting more was how Alex's relationship with her body was portrayed. It felt like the story leaned into the stereotype of the butch woman who's always the giver, always in control, and never allowed to express her own physical vulnerability. I kept hoping that dynamic would shift at some point because it made Alex feel more like an ideal than a complete person.
At the end of the day, I know this book simply wasn't written for a reader like me, and that's completely okay. I can absolutely see why it would resonate with others, especially if you enjoy unconventional healing romances with deeply flawed characters. Even though it didn't fully work for me, I still think it's worth giving a chance because you may end up connecting with these characters far more than I did.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2026
Thank you BookSirens and author SD Simper for this ARC. I am happy to share my honest thoughts.
I was worried this book might be a bit too dark for me but I was pleasantly surprised by a sappchi romance that dealt with two heavy topics but not in an overwhelming way. To Love The Stars Too Fondly was a spicy and emotional opposites attract sapphic romance that delivers. I liked this one and was happy to read my first book by SD Simper.
Terra has been through a horrible tragedy and in many ways continues to live in the pain every day. She is trudging on because that's what you do but she feels broken. I appreciated how much this author explored the effects of trauma and its lasting impacts. Terra is incredible in many ways but she has been forever changed by the trauma of her past. Her unhealthy coping mechanisms are highlighted as just that and I felt a sense of respect for her because fighting to survive and then fighting to become the person you want to be is hard as heck…and she does it. Terra works at a coffee shop and comes to know Alex through as she is a frequent customer. Alex is a smokin hot and filthy rich heiress but she has her fair share of traumas and skeletons too. Proving that money and beauty don't necessarily equal happiness.
Alex and Terra are essentially thrusted together in an instance of bravery. Alex steps in to protect Terra and something shifts. Terra starts to see her differently and its like for the first time in a long time someone has made her feel cared for and safe…tahts huge. They share and they connect and the result is a sensual and deliciously intimate story. I absolutely loved Alex and Terra together and appreciated what each woman brought to the relationship. They added positivity to each other's lives and I was so moved by that. This author knows a thing or two about trauma though because Simper does a good job of illustrating how this relationship progresses when one or both parties have some emotional baggage to sort through. They both have issues and I related to that a great deal. Their love story is a realistic journey and progresses in such a believable and organic way. It's messy and frustrating and feels so real.
I am new to SD Simper and enjoyed the writing style. Simper focuses on the characters and building them into realistic and relatable women. There is a lot of emotion in the writing and it's needed because when dealing with grief, trauma, anxiety and depression, it’s got to hit home…and it did. I found the dedication to spice kind pretty great. I always enjoy intimate scenes in my sapphic romance and these made me blush but also made me feel closer to Terra and Alex. Well done.
This was a roller coaster ride and there is a great deal to unpack in this story. I do recommend it for anyone looking for a messy but really satisfying sapphic romance with deep characters and real life circumstances.
I was worried this book might be a bit too dark for me but I was pleasantly surprised by a sappchi romance that dealt with two heavy topics but not in an overwhelming way. To Love The Stars Too Fondly was a spicy and emotional opposites attract sapphic romance that delivers. I liked this one and was happy to read my first book by SD Simper.
Terra has been through a horrible tragedy and in many ways continues to live in the pain every day. She is trudging on because that's what you do but she feels broken. I appreciated how much this author explored the effects of trauma and its lasting impacts. Terra is incredible in many ways but she has been forever changed by the trauma of her past. Her unhealthy coping mechanisms are highlighted as just that and I felt a sense of respect for her because fighting to survive and then fighting to become the person you want to be is hard as heck…and she does it. Terra works at a coffee shop and comes to know Alex through as she is a frequent customer. Alex is a smokin hot and filthy rich heiress but she has her fair share of traumas and skeletons too. Proving that money and beauty don't necessarily equal happiness.
Alex and Terra are essentially thrusted together in an instance of bravery. Alex steps in to protect Terra and something shifts. Terra starts to see her differently and its like for the first time in a long time someone has made her feel cared for and safe…tahts huge. They share and they connect and the result is a sensual and deliciously intimate story. I absolutely loved Alex and Terra together and appreciated what each woman brought to the relationship. They added positivity to each other's lives and I was so moved by that. This author knows a thing or two about trauma though because Simper does a good job of illustrating how this relationship progresses when one or both parties have some emotional baggage to sort through. They both have issues and I related to that a great deal. Their love story is a realistic journey and progresses in such a believable and organic way. It's messy and frustrating and feels so real.
I am new to SD Simper and enjoyed the writing style. Simper focuses on the characters and building them into realistic and relatable women. There is a lot of emotion in the writing and it's needed because when dealing with grief, trauma, anxiety and depression, it’s got to hit home…and it did. I found the dedication to spice kind pretty great. I always enjoy intimate scenes in my sapphic romance and these made me blush but also made me feel closer to Terra and Alex. Well done.
This was a roller coaster ride and there is a great deal to unpack in this story. I do recommend it for anyone looking for a messy but really satisfying sapphic romance with deep characters and real life circumstances.
Review of advance copy received from Author
For a dark subject, the book has a light style of presentation, not a bad idea, but I just couldn't connect with the presented mindset of the characters. Victimology examines the crime from the victim's side, the psychological effects on victims of trauma, mental health consequences. Terra Stern is a victim by the book of a terrible crime and in addition to physical trauma, she also suffers severe psychological ones, such a person left without additional support - financial and psychological, can fall into a spiral of negative decisions, as a result of traumatic experiences. And Terra is further victimized by the choices she makes. What she consciously decided would protect her from a repeat of the terrible event pushes her into a series of new dangers. Would I choose such a construction of her character? No. Is it realistic for someone who has experienced such a trauma to develop in this way? Maybe... For me, her character was not explored deeply enough, her emotions were presented lightly, for a trauma of such magnitude.
Alex Winthrop comes from a family with money, her name precedes her. She is also, like Terra, stated to be a complex person with problems, one of which is a mental illness that ruins her life to the point of maintaining an isolated personal life. Despite her controversial fame, she is kind, smiling and flirtatious, showing empathy, although in light of the plot, this empathy is born from her attraction to Terra. In the past, she was obsessive, suicidal, addicted to opiates... In the present, she is trying to strengthen the fragile balance and stay above the surface of the sea of problems.
For me, their relationship developed unconvincingly, based more on physical attraction and trauma bonding than on real values that connect them, but still, although terribly different, they find something to keep them in the same boat. I wanted to see more inner growth in Terra, a little more depth and more development in Alex.
To Love the Stars too Fondly (Steaming Hearts #1) offers dark complexity served as lightly as possible (the triggers probably won't shock you deeply) and I believe it will find its readers. Unfortunately, it's not my book, but I appreciate the author's idea of bringing together troubled individuals and giving them a chance to build something worthwhile together so I give it 3.25/5.
Alex Winthrop comes from a family with money, her name precedes her. She is also, like Terra, stated to be a complex person with problems, one of which is a mental illness that ruins her life to the point of maintaining an isolated personal life. Despite her controversial fame, she is kind, smiling and flirtatious, showing empathy, although in light of the plot, this empathy is born from her attraction to Terra. In the past, she was obsessive, suicidal, addicted to opiates... In the present, she is trying to strengthen the fragile balance and stay above the surface of the sea of problems.
For me, their relationship developed unconvincingly, based more on physical attraction and trauma bonding than on real values that connect them, but still, although terribly different, they find something to keep them in the same boat. I wanted to see more inner growth in Terra, a little more depth and more development in Alex.
To Love the Stars too Fondly (Steaming Hearts #1) offers dark complexity served as lightly as possible (the triggers probably won't shock you deeply) and I believe it will find its readers. Unfortunately, it's not my book, but I appreciate the author's idea of bringing together troubled individuals and giving them a chance to build something worthwhile together so I give it 3.25/5.
Review of advance copy
📖 AT A GLANCE
STARS 5 stars
SPICE medium spice
CHEMISTRY great
ANGST yes
SLOW BURN kind of
CLIFFHANGER no
CHARACTERS Terra and Alex
💬 LINES THAT LIVE RENT-FREE
"Having you notice me because I had the world's stupidest coffee order was better than you not noticing me at all." - Alex
🖤 MY READING EXPERIENCE
I loved To Love the Stars Too Fondly. I went in almost completely blind, which is pretty normal for me. 😂 I’ll read a blurb, think “this sounds like something I’ll love,” and then forget half of it by the time I actually start reading. And this one? I absolutely loved.
This was also my first SD Simper book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the way Alex and Terra’s relationship was built on top of so many wounds. Alex was such a green flag from the start, and I kept thinking these two were just so perfect for each other. But there was so much more beneath the surface than I expected. The author gave them layers, messy emotions and a deeper journey toward healing that made this feel like so much more than a romance.
💭 CHARACTER THOUGHTS
Terra and Alex have both been through things that left some pretty deep wounds. Watching them find each other and slowly help heal even a small piece of that hurt was beautiful.
Terra works at a coffee shop where Alex becomes a regular. She also happens to have the most annoying order imaginable. 😂 But when someone from Terra’s past/present crosses a line, Alex steps in. From there, their relationship starts to grow, and I loved watching it happen.
Alex’s care for Terra absolutely melted me. Watching these two fall in love while working through everything standing in their way was such a beautiful part of the story.
⚠️ ONE SMALL NOTE
This may look like a cute romance, and there are definitely some sweet moments, but these two also bring the spice and are dealing with some heavy trauma. Definitely check the author’s content warnings before reading.
📚 READ THIS IF YOU LOVE…
Sapphic contemporary romance, a barista trying to figure out her life, a seriously green-flag love interest although no one is perfect, plenty of spice, heavy emotional themes and a beautiful story about loving someone through both the good and the hard
STARS 5 stars
SPICE medium spice
CHEMISTRY great
ANGST yes
SLOW BURN kind of
CLIFFHANGER no
CHARACTERS Terra and Alex
💬 LINES THAT LIVE RENT-FREE
"Having you notice me because I had the world's stupidest coffee order was better than you not noticing me at all." - Alex
🖤 MY READING EXPERIENCE
I loved To Love the Stars Too Fondly. I went in almost completely blind, which is pretty normal for me. 😂 I’ll read a blurb, think “this sounds like something I’ll love,” and then forget half of it by the time I actually start reading. And this one? I absolutely loved.
This was also my first SD Simper book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the way Alex and Terra’s relationship was built on top of so many wounds. Alex was such a green flag from the start, and I kept thinking these two were just so perfect for each other. But there was so much more beneath the surface than I expected. The author gave them layers, messy emotions and a deeper journey toward healing that made this feel like so much more than a romance.
💭 CHARACTER THOUGHTS
Terra and Alex have both been through things that left some pretty deep wounds. Watching them find each other and slowly help heal even a small piece of that hurt was beautiful.
Terra works at a coffee shop where Alex becomes a regular. She also happens to have the most annoying order imaginable. 😂 But when someone from Terra’s past/present crosses a line, Alex steps in. From there, their relationship starts to grow, and I loved watching it happen.
Alex’s care for Terra absolutely melted me. Watching these two fall in love while working through everything standing in their way was such a beautiful part of the story.
⚠️ ONE SMALL NOTE
This may look like a cute romance, and there are definitely some sweet moments, but these two also bring the spice and are dealing with some heavy trauma. Definitely check the author’s content warnings before reading.
📚 READ THIS IF YOU LOVE…
Sapphic contemporary romance, a barista trying to figure out her life, a seriously green-flag love interest although no one is perfect, plenty of spice, heavy emotional themes and a beautiful story about loving someone through both the good and the hard
June 2, 2026
To Love The Stars Too Fondly is a beautiful dark sapphic romance between two recovering women, taking the hurt/comfort trope to a whole new level by breaking down their respective mental health struggles while also uplifting them through a blossoming love story.
Both MCs truly have my heart and are the back-bone of this story. Terra is the femme, pink haired, people-pleasing barista battling grief and sexual trauma while doing her best to support her and her mother. Alex is the tortured millionaire butch with a “fuckboy” reputation, a dark past of family trauma and addiction, and a heart of gold. Their love is as sweet as it is heartbreaking, because recovery is never linear, and navigating their personal struggles whist nurturing a new love is an important part of their individual arcs. Their growth as characters was just so beautiful to watch unfold, and I can’t wait for all their future endeavors together as they help each other and fiercely love one another despite their cruel pasts.
Simper handles all of the sensitive subjects with care and consideration, where the characters dark pasts and experiences are prioritized but never told in overly graphic detail (I still definitely recommend reading the content warnings). The focus is overcoming it and the love between them, and just thinking about Terra and Alex brings tears to my eyes. They’re just so special and deserve every single happiness together.
This book will punch you in the gut then give you a giant bear hug, and you’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll blush (a lot… Alex has a filthy mouth🥵), and you’ll smile while reading this adorably sweet and dark romance.
Both MCs truly have my heart and are the back-bone of this story. Terra is the femme, pink haired, people-pleasing barista battling grief and sexual trauma while doing her best to support her and her mother. Alex is the tortured millionaire butch with a “fuckboy” reputation, a dark past of family trauma and addiction, and a heart of gold. Their love is as sweet as it is heartbreaking, because recovery is never linear, and navigating their personal struggles whist nurturing a new love is an important part of their individual arcs. Their growth as characters was just so beautiful to watch unfold, and I can’t wait for all their future endeavors together as they help each other and fiercely love one another despite their cruel pasts.
Simper handles all of the sensitive subjects with care and consideration, where the characters dark pasts and experiences are prioritized but never told in overly graphic detail (I still definitely recommend reading the content warnings). The focus is overcoming it and the love between them, and just thinking about Terra and Alex brings tears to my eyes. They’re just so special and deserve every single happiness together.
This book will punch you in the gut then give you a giant bear hug, and you’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll blush (a lot… Alex has a filthy mouth🥵), and you’ll smile while reading this adorably sweet and dark romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It's an "Abomination" that I am done with this book already.
IT WAS SO GOOD. If you love hurt/comfort or Dark Romance give this one a go. It takes a second to build but it needs to. I loved learning about each character through bits and pieces at first and guessing at the exact details of their backstories. I loved how loving both characters actually were and I LOVE the mental health rep. Normalizing Mental Health is a favorite for me.
Terra starts out in the book with forgetting who she is due to trauma, good thing there's a cute masc that comes into her coffee shop every morning that's starting to remind her she might be worth it.
Alex has HORRIBLE taste in coffee, good thing she's cute. She might also be rich but we love her cause she's HOT.
I loved seeing growth in both characters throughout the story and I read half in an insomnia binge (yay health conditions) and the other half the next day and was so sad that it's already over. I backed the Kickstarter and I am so glad I did because I cannot wait to get the Special Edition book on my shelf:)
A great first read for Pride Month. If you haven't read it yet, find out how to get a copy ;)
IT WAS SO GOOD. If you love hurt/comfort or Dark Romance give this one a go. It takes a second to build but it needs to. I loved learning about each character through bits and pieces at first and guessing at the exact details of their backstories. I loved how loving both characters actually were and I LOVE the mental health rep. Normalizing Mental Health is a favorite for me.
Terra starts out in the book with forgetting who she is due to trauma, good thing there's a cute masc that comes into her coffee shop every morning that's starting to remind her she might be worth it.
Alex has HORRIBLE taste in coffee, good thing she's cute. She might also be rich but we love her cause she's HOT.
I loved seeing growth in both characters throughout the story and I read half in an insomnia binge (yay health conditions) and the other half the next day and was so sad that it's already over. I backed the Kickstarter and I am so glad I did because I cannot wait to get the Special Edition book on my shelf:)
A great first read for Pride Month. If you haven't read it yet, find out how to get a copy ;)
Review of advance copy
3 stars. Beautifully written and heartbreaking a lot of the times. I liked Terra and Alex as characters. I wanted to hug them both so much, especially Terra but the romance just…didn’t land for me. It’s not that they didn’t have chemistry, they do but the way that they are together I just wasn’t feeling the love. The physical chemistry was there and I completely understand why the author did it this way. Both characters have so, so much trauma to heal from and turn to each other but I wanted their romance to be something deeper than the physical. I don’t know, this was a good read and a beautiful story but as a romance I wanted so much more. I’d probably read book two when it comes out.
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Content Warning:
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Content Warning:
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2026
Definitely an instant personal fav - a lot of tropes I love (coffee shop AU actually not being one of them, but it works fine here!) that could feel a little silly/juvenile outside of... certain internet spaces, but written with the depth and care and skill that lets me instead just get to enjoy how fun those things are when you can actually escape into them instead of vaguely rolling your eyes at yourself and/or the author the whole time. Will 100% pick up the sequel.
It's a 4.5 but I'm rounding down for some personal pet peeves in the spice.
It's a 4.5 but I'm rounding down for some personal pet peeves in the spice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💜 “Enemies” to lovers
💜 Butch x Femme
💜 Rich girl x Barista
💜 Trauma and healing
This book is about two women dealing with past trauma and learning to heal from it together. They help each other through so much and I loved every part of it.
Alex is technically a stalker, which would be creepy asf in real life, but I ate it up in this book. 😂 She visits the coffee shop Terra works at every day at 8 a.m. for two years just to get any interaction she can with her. We love an obsessed queen. 🤌🏽
Terra always thought Alex was a total “fuckboy” and she judged the hell out of he even though she might’ve been slightly right 😏
I enjoyed how their relationship slowly progressed and we got to uncover the deep scars they were both trying to hide. The banter was so much fun and the spice was 😮💨🔥🔥🔥.
It seems like their story is going to continue and I’m so excited to read more. Highly recommend! ❤️
Oh, and there are trigger warnings, so please check the content warnings before reading!
💜 Butch x Femme
💜 Rich girl x Barista
💜 Trauma and healing
This book is about two women dealing with past trauma and learning to heal from it together. They help each other through so much and I loved every part of it.
Alex is technically a stalker, which would be creepy asf in real life, but I ate it up in this book. 😂 She visits the coffee shop Terra works at every day at 8 a.m. for two years just to get any interaction she can with her. We love an obsessed queen. 🤌🏽
Terra always thought Alex was a total “fuckboy” and she judged the hell out of he even though she might’ve been slightly right 😏
I enjoyed how their relationship slowly progressed and we got to uncover the deep scars they were both trying to hide. The banter was so much fun and the spice was 😮💨🔥🔥🔥.
It seems like their story is going to continue and I’m so excited to read more. Highly recommend! ❤️
Oh, and there are trigger warnings, so please check the content warnings before reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book so much more than i had expected. It’s my first book by SD Simper so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but wow. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Alex and Terra were amazing. I loved that Alex kept coming to the coffee shop and ordering a coffee she hated just to see Terra, I always love a moment like that. And the way she stood up for and protected her was truly amazing. Alex was such a lovable character and she had been through so much it’s unreal. And the same applies to Terra, I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for her. I was truly rooting for them to be together. Great book, would 100% recommend 🤍
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Move over, toxic yuri. It's time for healing yuri!
This is a story about two women and their love and how, together, they are able to face the inner-demons and trauma they couldn't face alone. And I loved every moment of it - even the moments where the depiction of trauma hit uncomfortably close to home. Even the moments where the drama had me in tears.
The book goes to some dark places but despite that it remains a heart warming tear jerking romance that I could not put down. That beauty and darkness is a delicate balancing act that nobody can do like SD Simper. I was hyped for this book the moment I heard about it and it lived up to every one of my sky high expectations.
This is a story about two women and their love and how, together, they are able to face the inner-demons and trauma they couldn't face alone. And I loved every moment of it - even the moments where the depiction of trauma hit uncomfortably close to home. Even the moments where the drama had me in tears.
The book goes to some dark places but despite that it remains a heart warming tear jerking romance that I could not put down. That beauty and darkness is a delicate balancing act that nobody can do like SD Simper. I was hyped for this book the moment I heard about it and it lived up to every one of my sky high expectations.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Incredible, like microdosing a panic attack that leaves your body with tranquility.
In short chapters the characters immediately felt so real and relatable in many ways. Simper held a mirror to some of my own trauma with previous works I've read and fortunately this follows suit, in a profoundly hopeful way.
Hope and strength despite whatever happened in the past feel like the main themes and they're masterfully woven in to an otherwise cute coffee shop.
Tremendously full of all the emotions and words are escaping me in this attempt of prescribing the tumultuous experience.
Absolutely a must read for anyone who likes sapphic books with some tougher themes
In short chapters the characters immediately felt so real and relatable in many ways. Simper held a mirror to some of my own trauma with previous works I've read and fortunately this follows suit, in a profoundly hopeful way.
Hope and strength despite whatever happened in the past feel like the main themes and they're masterfully woven in to an otherwise cute coffee shop.
Tremendously full of all the emotions and words are escaping me in this attempt of prescribing the tumultuous experience.
Absolutely a must read for anyone who likes sapphic books with some tougher themes
September 6, 2026
I don't usually read contemporary as it's just too close to real life for my liking. However, I've always enjoyed Simper's work so wanted to support this one too.
I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it as there are some discussions of off page TW events but it was really well handled. Nothing was explicit or extreme in any way.
This is one of the extremely few contemporary books I actually really enjoyed and I finished it in a day.
Hot masc with tatts politely semi stalking a disaster blonde but it's ok coz she's a lady and not some random creep dude. In this instance we wouldn't pick the bear!
Really enjoyed this, would recommend. Another great Simper book!
I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it as there are some discussions of off page TW events but it was really well handled. Nothing was explicit or extreme in any way.
This is one of the extremely few contemporary books I actually really enjoyed and I finished it in a day.
Hot masc with tatts politely semi stalking a disaster blonde but it's ok coz she's a lady and not some random creep dude. In this instance we wouldn't pick the bear!
Really enjoyed this, would recommend. Another great Simper book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
SD Simper has a way of writing raw, trauma-filled love stories with enough sincerity and genuine warmth that it never hurts more than it warms my heart to read. She also has a way of making me fall in love with her characters within just a handful of pages. I teared up multiple times, always for positive reasons. I already can't wait to see what the next installment has in store!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2026
Two main characters who have gone through hell. The way Alex chased after Terra and then once she had sex and seemed to then decide she wasn't worthy, wasn't a favorite part of the book for me. I'm also not a fan of the word fuckboy while describing a butch or masculine woman but I guess that's a thing these days. All in all the story didn't stop me from reading the whole thing.
September 10, 2026
** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
I enjoyed reading this even though I thought it needed more depth to certain mental health aspects but over all I enjoyed this. I loved the spice even if not all the tropes were for me. I recommend this one!
I enjoyed reading this even though I thought it needed more depth to certain mental health aspects but over all I enjoyed this. I loved the spice even if not all the tropes were for me. I recommend this one!
Review of advance copy
Lovely story about two wounded characters who help each other heal. I’m kind of a sucker for that. Though, I will say, I wish it had been longer! I definitely would not have minded spending twice the time working through everything with these two. :)
Review of advance copy
Wow phenomenal, I loved this book so much the depth of each character was flawless plus the vulnerability in their own past and their journey through it all its an exquisite emotional rollercoaster but worth every tear , i couldn't put it down definitely must read congratulations
September 1, 2026
I just love when you feel the love oozing from the characters. Despite their complicated lives and feelings and traumas,
you don't just read about their love blossoming, you feel it, you know it. That is the vibe of this book, in my opinion.
you don't just read about their love blossoming, you feel it, you know it. That is the vibe of this book, in my opinion.
Review of advance copy
A beautiful, intense, and sensual story of trauma, loss, and healing. I loved both characters and the friends around them (and extra love for the supportive mom)!
August 31, 2026
I enjoyed this slow burn romance, it was nice to see them work through past trauma and come together, despite their past. I look forward to the next book in this series.
August 31, 2026
3.5
lots of potential but not what i was expecting
lots of potential but not what i was expecting
Read
September 9, 2026It's too dark for me, I'd like to forget what I've read
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a dark yet beautiful love story! Full RTC
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