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Art of Denial : A sapphic romantic opposites attract
- GenresSlow Burn
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2026
About the author
Claire Highton-Stevenson
46 books382 followersAward-Winning and best selling, Claire Highton-Stevenson is an Independent author of contemporary romance and crime novels.
Having worked for many years in emergency services, Claire now spends her time writing, traveling, researching ancestry, following Liverpool FC and enjoying life as much as possible.
She lives in West Sussex, UK. Along with her wife and fur babies.
Having worked for many years in emergency services, Claire now spends her time writing, traveling, researching ancestry, following Liverpool FC and enjoying life as much as possible.
She lives in West Sussex, UK. Along with her wife and fur babies.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 23, 2026
3.75 ⭐
June 23, 2026
This is an excellent, sweet and steamy, slow-burn romance. I think that anyone who has worked in care will recognise the fierce and independent Gloria. Sloan struggles to find a carer who can fit Gloria's strong personality until Matty crosses her path.
I particularly enjoyed the build-up of the romance and Matty's sunshine personality. Highly recommended.
I particularly enjoyed the build-up of the romance and Matty's sunshine personality. Highly recommended.
June 24, 2026
4 - 4,5 ⭐️
June 21, 2026
This was a lot of fun!
I really enjoyed both MCs, Matty and Sloan. They’re both really likeable characters, (give Sloan a minute). And Gloria, Sloan’s mum, give her two minutes 😁
It’s a fun, light and very sexy read.
I really enjoyed both MCs, Matty and Sloan. They’re both really likeable characters, (give Sloan a minute). And Gloria, Sloan’s mum, give her two minutes 😁
It’s a fun, light and very sexy read.
June 25, 2026
Art of Denial by @itsclastevofficial is a beautiful story.
One seems aloof to the world, the other always in control—but what happens when the aloof one starts offering the kind of advice and support that makes the person who needs control feel completely vulnerable?
This story is absolutely beautiful. It captures the reality of caring for a parent while still trying to build a life of your own with honesty, heart, and grace.
And the mother? I wanted to slap her in the beginning. She drove me absolutely mad. But somewhere along the way, her sarcasm, wit, and sharp observations completely won me over. By the end, I adored her. 📸📚
🧡🤍🩷 Go meet Sloan and Matty oh and Gloria
One seems aloof to the world, the other always in control—but what happens when the aloof one starts offering the kind of advice and support that makes the person who needs control feel completely vulnerable?
This story is absolutely beautiful. It captures the reality of caring for a parent while still trying to build a life of your own with honesty, heart, and grace.
And the mother? I wanted to slap her in the beginning. She drove me absolutely mad. But somewhere along the way, her sarcasm, wit, and sharp observations completely won me over. By the end, I adored her. 📸📚
🧡🤍🩷 Go meet Sloan and Matty oh and Gloria
June 26, 2026
What a glorious slow burn, steamy hot love story! With a cantankerous mother in the mix! Sloan has her work world sorted out, but her personal life, ie her mother Gloria isn't. Until she meets Matty! Matty is working two jobs just to get by. Living in a horrible apartment with two sketchy roommates. When actually running into Sloan at one of her jobs, and no back up by her boss, she quit that job. Sloan asks her to talk, and then offers Matty a temporary caregiver job, after Matty meets Gloria and doesn't blanch from her nastiness.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!
I LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!
June 24, 2026
The Art Of Denial Takes Chemistry To Another Level!
The Art Of Denial is active in multiple ways in this book. I think the main one is Gloria & Matty. Yes, the chemistry between Sloan & Matty(talk about the art of denial)is hot causing beautiful sparks however the relationship between the carer and care recipient radiates warmth. It reminds us that a loved one who needs care is still a functioning adult. Speaking to their mind adds a strength and confidence that in turn benefits all involved. In this case Gloria is a trip. Matty is the only one who looks at Gloria as someone who hasn’t fully accepted their limitations and need helps recognizing what they can and cannot do. It is done with humor and humility. In Gloria’s case pushing the limits. I found that relationship was the catalyst to the story. Matty is a good person, down on her luck after a divorce that left her moving on with almost nothing. Working two jobs just to make rent in a dingy apartment with two sketchy roommates. She loses her day job no fault of her own. The only constant is the repetitive way she runs into Sloan. Sloan is holding in a lot. Her Mother is a nasty woman after her stroke left her partially paralyzed. Sloan lives with her Mother, her siblings couldn’t be bothered. But trying to get a carer to stay has her at her wits end. The agency will not send anyone else after 16 tries. But after running into Matty again, and sharing a night at Sloans, to help with her losing her day job she offers Matty the position temporarily. Sloan has to work but after the first day when her mother or Matty doesn’t call complaining, she wonders who Matty is. As the bond between Matty & Gloria develops, the Matty/Sloan connection takes a few different turns until disaster hits. This was a funny, sweet & sensitive story that puts Claire in the top of Sapphic RomComs.
The Art Of Denial is active in multiple ways in this book. I think the main one is Gloria & Matty. Yes, the chemistry between Sloan & Matty(talk about the art of denial)is hot causing beautiful sparks however the relationship between the carer and care recipient radiates warmth. It reminds us that a loved one who needs care is still a functioning adult. Speaking to their mind adds a strength and confidence that in turn benefits all involved. In this case Gloria is a trip. Matty is the only one who looks at Gloria as someone who hasn’t fully accepted their limitations and need helps recognizing what they can and cannot do. It is done with humor and humility. In Gloria’s case pushing the limits. I found that relationship was the catalyst to the story. Matty is a good person, down on her luck after a divorce that left her moving on with almost nothing. Working two jobs just to make rent in a dingy apartment with two sketchy roommates. She loses her day job no fault of her own. The only constant is the repetitive way she runs into Sloan. Sloan is holding in a lot. Her Mother is a nasty woman after her stroke left her partially paralyzed. Sloan lives with her Mother, her siblings couldn’t be bothered. But trying to get a carer to stay has her at her wits end. The agency will not send anyone else after 16 tries. But after running into Matty again, and sharing a night at Sloans, to help with her losing her day job she offers Matty the position temporarily. Sloan has to work but after the first day when her mother or Matty doesn’t call complaining, she wonders who Matty is. As the bond between Matty & Gloria develops, the Matty/Sloan connection takes a few different turns until disaster hits. This was a funny, sweet & sensitive story that puts Claire in the top of Sapphic RomComs.
June 18, 2026
I was accepted by Claire Highton-Stevenson to read and post my honest review for Art of Denial before official publication.
I will start by saying that Gloria is an absolute icon!
Art of Denial is a heartwarming story that follows Sloan and Matty. Sloan is the ice queen who is always in control. Her mother Gloria is recovering from a stroke and requires someone to help care for her… along comes Matty the rollerskating ray of sunshine! ☀️
I really liked the way this was written, it felt realistic and the characters were very loveable. It captured the reality of caring for someone you love whilst trying to navigate and live your life at the same time.
The story was the perfect length in my opinion, it held my attention and was all wrapped so well, I loved the ending!
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a sapphic romance that feels realistic and hopeful.
I give this 4 stars!
Thank you Claire for asking me to read and review!
I will start by saying that Gloria is an absolute icon!
Art of Denial is a heartwarming story that follows Sloan and Matty. Sloan is the ice queen who is always in control. Her mother Gloria is recovering from a stroke and requires someone to help care for her… along comes Matty the rollerskating ray of sunshine! ☀️
I really liked the way this was written, it felt realistic and the characters were very loveable. It captured the reality of caring for someone you love whilst trying to navigate and live your life at the same time.
The story was the perfect length in my opinion, it held my attention and was all wrapped so well, I loved the ending!
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a sapphic romance that feels realistic and hopeful.
I give this 4 stars!
Thank you Claire for asking me to read and review!
June 19, 2026
The Odd Couple plus 1
Sloan and Matty should not have anything in common but when fate puts them in front of each other -there is no stopping true love! Except maybe Sloan's mom Gloria who is recovering from a stroke and needs care giver. Luckily Sloan "helps" Matty lose on job and offers her the position! What follows in a true throuple love story that will make your heart smile. Sloan and Gloria need to work things thru after their relationship strains from the stroke. Learning to listen to each other is one of the best lessons of the story. Claire writes her stories with heart and laughter and you will always find a cameo-welcome home Cam Thomas! Lots of good spice as always and a little strap action if you want! Another winner 5 ⭐
Sloan and Matty should not have anything in common but when fate puts them in front of each other -there is no stopping true love! Except maybe Sloan's mom Gloria who is recovering from a stroke and needs care giver. Luckily Sloan "helps" Matty lose on job and offers her the position! What follows in a true throuple love story that will make your heart smile. Sloan and Gloria need to work things thru after their relationship strains from the stroke. Learning to listen to each other is one of the best lessons of the story. Claire writes her stories with heart and laughter and you will always find a cameo-welcome home Cam Thomas! Lots of good spice as always and a little strap action if you want! Another winner 5 ⭐
June 18, 2026
Sloan 🥵 and Matty are goals!! Sloan is having a hard time with her mother Gloria, who will not behave for any caretaker, when Matty enters into her life. Matty hasn’t had the easiest go of it, especially financially, since her divorce and isn’t in a position to turn down an offer from Sloan, since she is also the cause of her losing (quitting) her current job. Gloria tries to run Matty off like the others until she realizes that Matty isn’t going anywhere and they develop an understanding, which only improves their relationship and the one between Gloria and Sloan. Matty and Sloan have their own obstacles to tackle, but chemistry is NOT one of them!! Gloria, Matty, and Sloan have some great banter and fun moments! I very much enjoyed this book, as I have with all others I have read by Claire!!
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2026
great read by a terrific author
Always happy to see a new book by Claire. Her characters always have a bit more depth than the average HEA romances. I love them all but these characters are fun to get to know and I am always sorry when their story ends. Hope they pop up in another as they sometimes do in this engaging town where I’d move to tomorrow if it were real life.
Always happy to see a new book by Claire. Her characters always have a bit more depth than the average HEA romances. I love them all but these characters are fun to get to know and I am always sorry when their story ends. Hope they pop up in another as they sometimes do in this engaging town where I’d move to tomorrow if it were real life.
June 19, 2026
Don’t Deny Yourself
Art of Denial is everything I have come to expect from Claire Highton-Stevenson; Smart, Funny and soooo Sexy. Come meet Sloan and Matty you won’t be able to put it down
Art of Denial is everything I have come to expect from Claire Highton-Stevenson; Smart, Funny and soooo Sexy. Come meet Sloan and Matty you won’t be able to put it down
June 26, 2026
Okay, so I went into this expecting a cute, lighthearted sapphic romance, which it totally is, but it's also so much more than that. I finished it in two days because I just couldn't put it down.
The setup hooked me right away. Sloan is your classic control freak who's got it all together on the outside but is barely holding on underneath. She's back home, dealing with her stubborn, fiercely independent mother Gloria (who honestly had me laughing out loud with her refusal to accept any help), and she's drowning. Enter Matty, who is basically a human ray of sunshine on roller skates with zero qualifications and zero filter. She's the complete opposite of Sloan, and their dynamic is chef's kiss.
What I loved most is how natural the chemistry felt. There's no insta-love here, it's a slow burn that actually makes sense. Sloan is in complete denial about her feelings (hence the title, right?), telling herself she's keeping Matty around for practical reasons. But you can see her walls slowly crumbling, and it's so satisfying to watch. The quiet moments between them? The ones where Matty just sees Sloan and doesn't let her get away with pretending she's fine? Those were my favorite parts.
Matty is such a refreshing character. She's chaotic and messy and says whatever pops into her head, but she's also incredibly perceptive and kind. She doesn't try to fix Sloan, she just stays, and that's exactly what Sloan needed. I found myself rooting for both of them so hard.
Also, can we talk about Gloria? She's not just comic relief. Her relationship with Sloan is complicated and real, and the way the story handles aging, caregiving, and letting go of pride felt surprisingly tender for a romance novel.
It's funny, it's steamy when it needs to be, and it left me with a big dumb smile on my face. If you're looking for a warm, opposites-attract romance with heart and characters that feel like actual people, definitely pick this one up. It's the kind of book that makes you believe in second chances—not just in love, but in learning to let people in.
Highly recommend! 🌟
The setup hooked me right away. Sloan is your classic control freak who's got it all together on the outside but is barely holding on underneath. She's back home, dealing with her stubborn, fiercely independent mother Gloria (who honestly had me laughing out loud with her refusal to accept any help), and she's drowning. Enter Matty, who is basically a human ray of sunshine on roller skates with zero qualifications and zero filter. She's the complete opposite of Sloan, and their dynamic is chef's kiss.
What I loved most is how natural the chemistry felt. There's no insta-love here, it's a slow burn that actually makes sense. Sloan is in complete denial about her feelings (hence the title, right?), telling herself she's keeping Matty around for practical reasons. But you can see her walls slowly crumbling, and it's so satisfying to watch. The quiet moments between them? The ones where Matty just sees Sloan and doesn't let her get away with pretending she's fine? Those were my favorite parts.
Matty is such a refreshing character. She's chaotic and messy and says whatever pops into her head, but she's also incredibly perceptive and kind. She doesn't try to fix Sloan, she just stays, and that's exactly what Sloan needed. I found myself rooting for both of them so hard.
Also, can we talk about Gloria? She's not just comic relief. Her relationship with Sloan is complicated and real, and the way the story handles aging, caregiving, and letting go of pride felt surprisingly tender for a romance novel.
It's funny, it's steamy when it needs to be, and it left me with a big dumb smile on my face. If you're looking for a warm, opposites-attract romance with heart and characters that feel like actual people, definitely pick this one up. It's the kind of book that makes you believe in second chances—not just in love, but in learning to let people in.
Highly recommend! 🌟
June 29, 2026
If you are looking for a fun, sweet, heart warming book, about two very different people that shouldn’t work but happen to be perfect for each other... hear me out.
If you are looking for a story where chaos and control crush together and give opportunity to the unexpected... you may just be in the right place.
Art of Denial is a witty romance, full of small moments that slowly implode into something bigger. Balancing between vulnerability and careful restraint.
Sloan Slater is a succesful business woman, that found herself moving back home after her mother had a stroke and managing for her comfort and care. She takes solace in taking control, when life gave her no choice but to take responsability.
Matty is... well, the opposite. Loose, with no real plan and juggling chaos graciously.
Then, there's Gloria, Sloan's mother. And what a character this lady is. Stripped from her independence, she struggles to manage her frustation and anger in check, while still fighting to keep her dignity and the sense of self. She is a nightmare born of well meant misunderstanding... but with such witty spirit, refusing to break.
The three of them come together in a way that just works, bringing the best out of each other, and granting the opportunity to take a leap of faith, see things differently and try again.
The story is funny and heartwarming, and while it could often lead somewhere heavy, it was handled in a way that brought more comfort than angst.
Some spots hit a little close to home on this one, and I have really enjoyed how it made me feel...
Oh, and final note about the spice... let's just say all good things are worth waiting for (IYKYK....)
If you are looking for a story where chaos and control crush together and give opportunity to the unexpected... you may just be in the right place.
Art of Denial is a witty romance, full of small moments that slowly implode into something bigger. Balancing between vulnerability and careful restraint.
Sloan Slater is a succesful business woman, that found herself moving back home after her mother had a stroke and managing for her comfort and care. She takes solace in taking control, when life gave her no choice but to take responsability.
Matty is... well, the opposite. Loose, with no real plan and juggling chaos graciously.
Then, there's Gloria, Sloan's mother. And what a character this lady is. Stripped from her independence, she struggles to manage her frustation and anger in check, while still fighting to keep her dignity and the sense of self. She is a nightmare born of well meant misunderstanding... but with such witty spirit, refusing to break.
The three of them come together in a way that just works, bringing the best out of each other, and granting the opportunity to take a leap of faith, see things differently and try again.
The story is funny and heartwarming, and while it could often lead somewhere heavy, it was handled in a way that brought more comfort than angst.
Some spots hit a little close to home on this one, and I have really enjoyed how it made me feel...
Oh, and final note about the spice... let's just say all good things are worth waiting for (IYKYK....)
July 4, 2026
an unexpected romance
Sloan has been taking care of her mother Gloria, who has had a stroke. She’s at her wits end because every person she gets to care for Gloria is driven off but then she meets Maddie and Sparks fly. Maddie is very good with Gloria and what was an employer relationship soon became a real relationship. I found the characters very good and the plot. Excellent there was a lot of action in the book and some very spicy chapters. I recommend I spoke to all romance readers.
Sloan has been taking care of her mother Gloria, who has had a stroke. She’s at her wits end because every person she gets to care for Gloria is driven off but then she meets Maddie and Sparks fly. Maddie is very good with Gloria and what was an employer relationship soon became a real relationship. I found the characters very good and the plot. Excellent there was a lot of action in the book and some very spicy chapters. I recommend I spoke to all romance readers.
June 27, 2026
I actually held my breath, so anxious near the end!
This steamy adventure by Claire Highton-Stevenson had me so wound up I couldn’t put it down. She has a knack for developing unique characters the grab your attention and your heart. These three MC’s slipped into my mind, grabbed my heart strings and yanked me right in. So very hot, so gentle the combination unbelievably perfect!
This steamy adventure by Claire Highton-Stevenson had me so wound up I couldn’t put it down. She has a knack for developing unique characters the grab your attention and your heart. These three MC’s slipped into my mind, grabbed my heart strings and yanked me right in. So very hot, so gentle the combination unbelievably perfect!
June 27, 2026
Great new book
Another great book from Claire. I live that Cam was in this story. Matty and Sloan had that instant connection from the beginning. I loved Gloria. She was the comic relief in the story. Can go wrong with a mom in a scooter. I truly enjoy the face paced reading of all your books. So much content, but you slide through each chapter. I definitely recommend.
Another great book from Claire. I live that Cam was in this story. Matty and Sloan had that instant connection from the beginning. I loved Gloria. She was the comic relief in the story. Can go wrong with a mom in a scooter. I truly enjoy the face paced reading of all your books. So much content, but you slide through each chapter. I definitely recommend.
June 29, 2026
Unexpected
This was one of those stories where you think you know where it's going but are so happy to be wrong. This book has everything you want in a romance: witty dialogue, interesting characters, and just the right amount of spice. The story took some turns that I didn't expect, which kept the story very engaging. I highly recommend reading this. You won't be disappointed.
This was one of those stories where you think you know where it's going but are so happy to be wrong. This book has everything you want in a romance: witty dialogue, interesting characters, and just the right amount of spice. The story took some turns that I didn't expect, which kept the story very engaging. I highly recommend reading this. You won't be disappointed.
June 19, 2026
Enjoyed
A well paced story. I liked the main characters and how their romance blossomed. I enjoyed reading this latest book from Claire.
A well paced story. I liked the main characters and how their romance blossomed. I enjoyed reading this latest book from Claire.
June 30, 2026
Loved it!!!
I love everything by this author. It's laugh out loud funny, heartfelt, and relatable. The characters are amazing. Can't wait to read all of her books.
I love everything by this author. It's laugh out loud funny, heartfelt, and relatable. The characters are amazing. Can't wait to read all of her books.
July 12, 2026
Brilliant book with fantastic characters, Sloan's mother Gloria absolutely steals the show. Funny, sexy, a genuinely great story with the bonus of a brief appearance from Cam & Michelle.
Read
June 25, 2026In my opinion, it's really a great book. It made me smile, laugh, and even brought tears to my eyes.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews