Birdie

by Tilly Ridge, C.S. Silverne

Note to When your friends and family tell you not to drink away your sorrows, you should probably listen.

Too little. Too late.

Three-and-a-half months after catching my ex-fiancé cheating—and spiraling straight into a drunken, ill-advised one-night stand in a bathroom stall with my best friend—I’ve officially reached burnout. The weight of the world is crushing my chest, and I can barely remember what genuine happiness even feels like.

So naturally, I chose the most reasonable solution.

Run away to Dad’s ranch in Whiskey Creek, with the hope that I can remember who I was before my life imploded.

The problem?

My dad invited my best friend, Lenny, too.

The bigger problem?

There’s only one room. One bed.

And apparently, between my father’s matchmaking tendencies and Lenny’s stupidly charming grin, they’ve already decided they know exactly how to coax the sunshine out of me again.

Whether I’m ready for it or not.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Lesbian, Queer, Audiobook, Novella, Romance, Westerns

164 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

Tilly Ridge is a romance author who resides in the middle of nowhere, Kentucky, with her husband, two kiddos, and two dogs. She loves to dabble in a variety of romance topics, themes, and subgenres, but you’ll typically find her writing in the dark and polyamory sections of the shelves. Tilly can be easily identified by the pink slush clutched in one hand while her laptop is in the other, ready to write whenever the mood—or the character—strikes! In her free time, she enjoys playing sand volleyball in her local rec league. But what she finds most exciting is her podcast, Releasing Romance, where she shares her knowledge and experience about indie publishing, often bringing on guests to discuss the ins and outs of indie publishing from different professional points of view! This podcast is a passion project of Tilly’s as she finds true joy in helping and educating others in a way that is easy to understand.

Join Tilly’s readers group for exclusive BTS, art drops, first looks at pretty much anything, and even chapter-by-chapter releases of her ongoing projects at: Tilly’s Thots

The newsletter is where the fun is, and maybe even a free ebook will hit your inbox after—along with a first look at the big news.

Find everything you’ll need to stay connected at https://www.tillyridgeauthor.com/links

Reviews

[AshleyReadsSmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy? I’m sorry, I mean MOMMY 🥵😻
I loved every. single. second. of this.

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘: Standalone Novella
𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: Whiskey Creek #1
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞: Dual narration

𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚: FF
𝗛𝗘𝗔/𝗛𝗙𝗡: 💖
𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣: 🏳️‍🌈
𝗪𝗛𝗬-𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗘: 🚫
𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Lenny + Daisy

𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
♥︎ sapphic romance
♥︎ best friends to lovers
♥︎ small town: ranch
♥︎ age gap (8 yrs: 24/32)
♥︎ depression/anxiety rep

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦:
♥︎ mommy
♥︎ somnophilia
♥︎ degradation

𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚖𝚞𝚝 > 𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝.

[Kassie Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m still blushing, probably will be forever. Birdie and Lenny..

MOMMY? 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

The double sided 🤫. I feel like this is a 3.5ish star and it could’ve been a 6⭐️if it was a whole ass book and extended. I want more of these two

[Emma Bookish 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Add “women calling each other mommy” to my list of favorite tropes because I am obsessed. Need every book ever written where this happens, thank you.

This is a very short, fast-paced, all-spice-no-plot kind of read, but somehow the authors still made the relationship feel fully developed. Birdie and Lenny had me invested from the start, and the chemistry between them was off the charts. The spice? Incredible.

We get best friends to lovers, a small-town ranch setting, plus-size representation, black cat x sunshine, a one-bed situation, and enough yearning to keep me thoroughly entertained.

My favorite character, though, was Birdie’s dad. He is so supportive of his daughter’s sexuality that it bordered on too much. The amount of scheming he did to get Birdie and Lenny alone together had me cracking up. Plotting against his own daughter because he’s tired of watching her pine after the obvious love of her life.

And then the ending lets you know he’s getting his own book? Plus Maeve, who is in love with her foster sister? Yeah, I’ll absolutely be back.

Thank you to Luna Literacy and the authors for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is perfect for people wanting a really spice quick sapphic read. when signing up for the alc i unfortunately did not realize it was a novella (completely my fault and has no reflection on the rating) but i was definitely left wanting more! i really liked daisy and lenny and truly wished this was longer because i would have loved to have seen more of the yearning through out their friendship first.

the biggest thing for me was finding out i am not a mommy kink fan when the term “little girl” gets involved its a huge ick for me and i could have done without. i also had a hard time with one of the narrators.

i think had i read it vs listening to it i may have enjoyed it a bit more.

[Chelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdie

This little novella does not waste any time! From the first chapter, you get the spice and the drama. A great quick read if you're looking for some steamy fun. Lenny and Daisy have you rooting for them all the way to the end.

[Montes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s friends to lovers with the tiniest bit of miscommunication angst close to the beginning of the book and a LOT of spice. The narrators were really good, I felt like their voices and intonation really captured the essence of the characters and their connection.

If you’re looking for a quick smutty read, or listen or both, then give this a shot.

Thank you to Luna Literary Management for providing me with an eARC and an ALC.

[Solely Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 4🌶️. 166 pages
4 Spicy Scenes

This little novella is deliciously spicy, we’re talking 95% spice, 5% plot. You best believe for that reason I was sat.

Yet despite being spice over plot the relationship between Lenny and Daisy feels fully developed, we still had mental health rep and the grief of parental loss thrown in there.

Birdie is a fun quick read that is full of heart and delightfully detailed spice, we’re talking scenes that span several chapters 🤤. Lenny and Daisy will have you rooting for them from the first chapter and by the end they’ll have you wanting more. And you best believe if there are more sapphic novellas in this series (that don’t include men) I shall be there with bells on to read them 😍

If you like your novellas spicy, with a plus size FMC, BFFs to lovers and minimal plot, then add Birdie to your TBR. For the spice alone I’d highly recommend it.

Things to LOVE:
📚Small Town Romance
❤️BFFs to Lovers
⛓️Forced Proximity
🛏️One Bed
😍Plus Size FMC
🐴Ranch Setting
🧠Mental Health Rep
🌶️SPICE!!!

[Sarah S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, what a fun sapphic cowgirls novella!! It hurt a little that Daisy (Birdie) has an ex fiancée named Sarah, but I’ll survive.

Birdie and Lenny are hot as sin. They’ve been friends forever, and one night Birdie takes Lenny into the bathroom of a bar and drunkenly hooks up with her.

Things are strained after that, until Birdie comes to her Dad’s ranch to help out…and who’s there too? Lenny.

This one had so many shminks that I go absolutely feral for. I will be thinking about one scene in particular for a while.

Thanks so much to the authors for the ARC opportunity. I will be getting a shelf trophy for this one!

[Jillian Fairfax · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always a good time when these two authors get together to publish a book! 🔥🔥🔥

This sapphic country romance was a fun and lighthearted good time! I enjoyed the best friends to lovers trope!

I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narrators. I felt that they fit their characters voices perfectly!

If you need a quick and spicy good time, this is the book for you!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This spicy sapphic novella was the cure to my reading slump, funny, sexy, and had me happy crying. Absolutely yes. Can’t wait for more from this series.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenny + Daisy

-sapphic romance
-small town
-friends to lovers
-black cat x sunshine
-mommy kink
-age gap

yesssss i loveee getting sapphic love from these two! & of course these two were adorable while also being quick & down & dirty!!

[han ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

"i want her to be mine. it’s more than a want at this point; it’s a need."

short, quick, and spicy! definitely a bingeable read with it being under 100 pages. i knew what i was getting into with this being a novella, so i expected the plot to be relatively nonexistent and the spice to be the main character. while the spice was good, i think it was lacking something for me, and maybe i’m just not into the mommy kink…? overall, definitely snag this one if you’re looking for something to binge with drool-worthy spice! but the mention of the next book(s)? i’m so sat.

long live sapphic cowgirls!!!

thank you so much to the authors and luna literary management for the e-arc! 🌙

𐚁 age gap
❀ one bed
𐚁 small town
❀ friends to lovers
𐚁 forced proximity

[Anisha Choudhury | A Literary Autopsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Disclosure: I received an eARC for this title from the authors.

Birdie by Tilly Ridge and C. S. Silverne is a fantastic kick-off to the Whiskey Creek series. It follows Daisy (Birdie) after she flees to her father's ranch to recover from burnout and a messy breakup, only to find her best friend, Lenny, waiting for her.

While this is a short read, the authors managed to pack in so much potential and character depth. The chemistry between Daisy and Lenny is mature, palpable, and incredibly spicy. I was worried a shorter story might feel disconnected, but it was a completely immersive, sweet, and intense experience.

Beyond the romance, Miles—Daisy’s father—was an absolute standout character. If every queer kid had a parent as supportive and wonderful as Miles, the world would be a much better place. The story balances heavy themes like depression and burnout rep with high-heat tropes, including best friends-to-lovers, age gap, and plus-size representation.

If you’re looking for a short WLW romance that hits all the right spicy notes while still delivering a heartfelt story, Birdies is a must-read.

[Alaine McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdie- Tilly Ridge, CS Silverne
Narrated by Amy Hall and Mariana Cavern

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧

Mommy? I’m sorry, mommy? 😆 this was super hot. I actually didn’t think the mommy was who the mommy was going to be. I thought they’d be opposite roles but somehow it works lol super quick sapphic cowgirl novella with public sex and somno, what more could you ask for?

Amy and Mariana did so good in this one. Their voices matched the characters perfectly but in that same sense, I still thought the “mommy” was opposite almost because of who was cast as each character but they both fit their respective character perfectly.

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars💫
Thank you, Luna Literary Management for the ARC & ALC!🩷

Birdie was a fun, short, and sweet (or should I say spicy?) read that was the perfect conclusion to my pride month reads. I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. This sapphic, southern romance follows Lenny and Daisy as they navigate their complicated relationship that is slowly becoming more. Despite things being complicated, I have to shout out how well they communicated and navigated deeper topics. Love to see it! Even with the story being on the shorter side, the representation was phenomenal and very well done. I enjoyed this read, and I'm curious as to how the future books will unfold.

Props to Marina Craven and Amy Hall for doing an amazing job of bringing the girls and the story to life!<3

[Rae Quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had quite a bit of heart mixed in with the spice, but overall I found the majority of it to be a bit cringe. Quick, fun read though. Birdie’s dad was hilarious.

I have learned two things about myself while reading this:
1) the “mommy” thing does not work for me unless it’s said ironically to be funny
2) friends to lovers does not work for me when done this quickly. If I don’t have time to buy into the friendship first, it gives me the ick

These are me issues, though, not the book’s.

I was able to immersive read this, and the narrators did a really good job of performing these characters.

[tiffanysreadingnook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was HAWT but also so cute. Like I loved them and I only spent less than 200 pages with them. I do wish this was longer because I would have ate it up. Also the spice?!?!! This is what I wanted from the other sapphic books I have read

[Britt ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You do NOT want to miss this book 🥵 this was my first book by Tilly & C.S. and I have already read another since then hehe. I will definitely be diving into their backlists as duos and individually because I’m HOOKED. I was lucky enough to get an eARC and ALC of Birdie and I literally read it and then listened to the audio because it was just THAT good. I already knew I loved Amy Hall’s narration and I have a newfound love now for Mariana Craven’s now too 👏🏼 they KILLED it.

I loved Lenny and Daisy so much. Their story starts off with a (finger) bang, LOL. I was instantly captivated by their differing personalities and the budding love between the two of them. I liked how they already had that built in love from their friendship and once they bloomed into full on romance, they had that strong foundation. I could’ve read so much more of these two because I just adored them. Their banter, the meddling of Daisy’s dad, the small town element and so much more. Also lowkey hoping for Maeve’s story 👀

Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. It’s so short so if you’re looking for a quickie - here ya go!

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

two sexy cowgirls who use toys on each other yes please

[Tasha_loves_to_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little read this was. Both new to me authors and I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
Daisy and Lenny were perfect. I absolutely loved Miles and what he got upto 😂. Let me just say the spice was spicing and II ate this novella up.

[Carissa Caulum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Lenny and Daisy's story. I loved the storyline and the writing. This was a fun novella. I can't wait for Miles' book! I really enjoyed the relationship that Daisy and Miles had. I also enjoyed the friendship between Lenny and Daisy before it became more.

Thank you to Luna Literary for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rania Zulkifli · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Birdie* by C. S. Silverne and Tilly Ridge was such a fun, emotional, and tension-filled small-town sapphic romance. It had heartbreak, healing, forced proximity, one bed, best-friend feelings, ranch vibes, family meddling, banter, and the kind of emotional tension that makes you want to scream, giggle, and keep reading all at the same time.

From the very beginning, I felt so bad for Daisy. She really thought she was heading toward her happily ever after, only to have everything fall apart after catching her ex-fiancé cheating. That kind of betrayal would break anyone, and I understood why she felt so lost, burnt out, and overwhelmed. She was not just dealing with heartbreak. She was dealing with the shock of realizing the future she imagined for herself was not going to happen the way she thought it would.

What made it even more emotional was the fact that her best friend had been in love with her all along. I love that kind of friends-to-lovers setup because there is already so much history between the characters. It is not just attraction. It is years of knowing each other, caring for each other, hiding feelings, and trying not to ruin something that already matters so much. That made every moment between them feel heavier, sweeter, and more intense.

Daisy running back to her dad’s ranch in Whiskey Creek felt like the perfect setting for her to breathe again. There is something so comforting about a small-town ranch escape after a life implosion. She needed distance from the city, from the cheating ex, from the pressure, and from all the noise in her head. She needed space to remember who she was before everything hurt.

But of course, peace and quiet does not exactly go as planned when her dad invites her best friend too.

And then there is only one room.

One bed.

That setup alone had me ready because I already knew the tension was going to be so good. Forced proximity and one bed are always fun, but when it is between best friends with hidden feelings and unresolved emotions, it becomes even better. Every look, every conversation, every moment of closeness feels like it means something.

One of my favorite parts was Daisy’s dad. He was so funny, and honestly, I loved how supportive he was. The fact that he is older but knows modern slang and lingo made me laugh because that kind of parent would be such an adventure. He felt like the kind of dad who knows more than he says, sees everything, and is absolutely not above a little matchmaking if it means helping his daughter find her happiness again.

I loved the idea that Daisy’s dad and her best friend had this plan to get her home, help her slow down, and give her a chance to heal. It was chaotic, but in a loving way. He clearly wanted Daisy away from everything that hurt her, and I loved how much he wanted her to be okay.

The emotional side of the romance was also really strong. Once Daisy and her best friend were together at the ranch, all those buried feelings started coming out. There was anger, confusion, hurt, longing, and misunderstandings. There were those “do you really love me?” kind of conversations that make the romance feel raw and emotional because both characters are scared in different ways.

And once they finally started talking? The tension was intense.

The banter between them was so good, and the chemistry had me giggling. I love when a book can balance emotional conversations with funny moments and romantic tension. There were scenes where I felt the angst, but then the banter would make everything feel playful again. It gave the story such a nice mix of heart and heat.

This book also worked for me because it was not only about romance. It was about healing after betrayal, accepting love when you are afraid to trust again, and realizing that sometimes the person who has always been there might be the person who truly sees you. Daisy needed to feel safe again, and I loved watching her slowly get there.

The best-friend longing was one of my favorite parts. There is something so beautiful and painful about loving someone quietly, especially when you are scared they may never feel the same way. That kind of love adds so much emotional weight to the story because you can feel how much is at stake. It is not just about starting a relationship. It is about risking a friendship, facing the truth, and deciding if love is worth the fear.

Overall, *Birdie* was such a cute, funny, emotional, and spicy small-town romance. It gave me friends-to-lovers, one bed, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, healing love, ranch escape vibes, sapphic romance, and a meddling supportive dad who deserves his own spotlight.

If you love small-town romances with emotional tension, best friends who clearly have unfinished feelings, one-bed chaos, supportive family energy, banter, healing after heartbreak, and a love story that comes with both angst and sweetness, this book is definitely worth reading.

Daisy’s story made me feel so much for her, but it also made me laugh, swoon, and root so hard for her happiness. This was messy, heartfelt, funny, and full of the kind of tension that makes a romance so addictive.

[Audio book lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

🤠🩷 Two best friends. One drunken mistake. One tiny ranch bedroom with one very unavoidable bed. 🩷🤠

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️☆☆ (3/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Dual Narration
Series: No Standalone (Novella)
HEA: Yes

Birdie is exactly the kind of novella you pick up thinking, this will be a quick little palate cleanser, only to end up completely charmed by the characters. It’s short, spicy, and incredibly easy to devour in one sitting, but underneath all the flirting and heat there’s also a surprisingly heartfelt story about burnout, healing, and finding your way back to yourself.

After her life completely falls apart, Birdie heads home to her dad’s ranch hoping for a fresh start… only to discover her best friend Lenny has been invited too. Add in one drunken night they’ve both been trying very hard not to think about, one bedroom, one bed, and a father who might be doing a little matchmaking of his own, and things get complicated fast.

For a novella, this relationship feels remarkably well developed. Birdie and Lenny’s friendship is the heart of the story, and you can feel the years of trust, affection, and quiet longing behind every interaction. Their chemistry is absolutely electric, but it’s the comfort they find in each other that makes this one stand out.

The Story

Three and a half months after catching her fiancé cheating and making one spectacularly bad alcohol-fueled decision with her best friend, Birdie is burned out in every sense of the word. Work, life, heartbreak… it has all become too much. Escaping to her dad’s ranch in Whiskey Creek feels like the only way to breathe again.

The only problem? Lenny is there too.

What starts as an awkward reunion quickly turns into something impossible to ignore. Old feelings, unresolved tension, and one very inconvenient sleeping arrangement force them to confront everything they’ve been avoiding. As Birdie slowly begins to heal, she realizes that maybe the person who has always felt like home has been standing beside her all along.

What I Loved

✔️ Best friends-to-lovers done right
✔️ Cozy small-town ranch setting
✔️ One bed / forced proximity goodness
✔️ Black cat x sunshine energy
✔️ Plus-size representation
✔️ Great balance between emotional moments and spice
✔️ A sapphic romance that feels warm, comforting, and fun

🎧 Narration

Performed in dual narration by Amy Hall and Marina Craven, and honestly, the audiobook elevated the entire experience.

Both narrators bring so much personality and emotion to these characters. Amy Hall and Marina Craven perfectly capture Birdie and Lenny’s dynamic, balancing the heavier themes of burnout and depression with the playful banter and undeniable attraction between them. Their performances make the quiet, vulnerable moments land just as well as the steamier scenes, and together they create an audiobook that is incredibly easy to get lost in.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Sapphic Romance
✔️ Best Friends to Lovers
✔️ Small Town Romance
✔️ Dad’s Ranch Setting
✔️ One Bed / Forced Proximity
✔️ Black Cat x Sunshine
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Plus-Size FMC
✔️ Burnout & Depression Representation
✔️ Mommy Kink
✔️ Exhibitionism
✔️ HEA

Final Thoughts

Birdie is short, spicy, and ridiculously entertaining. It leans much more into character chemistry than a complex plot, but somehow that works perfectly here. The authors manage to pack an impressive amount of heart into such a small package, making Birdie and Lenny’s relationship feel authentic, lived-in, and completely worth rooting for.

If you love sapphic romances with best-friends-to-lovers tension, cozy ranch vibes, one-bed chaos, and a healthy dose of spice, this little novella is absolutely worth adding to your TBR. And thanks to Amy Hall and Marina Craven’s fantastic dual narration, I’d especially recommend experiencing this one on audio.

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️☆☆ (3/5)
Format: Audiobook (Dual Narration by Amy Hall & Marina Craven)
Vibe: Sapphic Small-Town / Friends-to-Lovers Novella
Birdie is exactly the kind of novella you pick up thinking it will be a quick little palate cleanser, only to end up completely charmed and fully invested in the characters. It is short, spicy, and incredibly easy to devour in a single sitting. However, underneath all the flirting and high-heat tension, authors Tilly Ridge and C.S. Silverne have packed a surprisingly heartfelt story about burnout, healing, and finding your way back to yourself.
The Story:
Three and a half months after catching her fiancé cheating and making one spectacularly bad, alcohol-fueled decision with her best friend, Birdie is burned out in every sense of the word. Work, life, heartbreak… it has all become too much to carry. Escaping to her dad’s ranch in Whiskey Creek feels like the only way to finally catch her breath.
The only problem? Her best friend, Lenny, is there too.
What starts as an awkward reunion quickly turns into something impossible to ignore. Old feelings, unresolved tension, and a father who might be doing a little matchmaking of his own force them into a single-bedroom, one-bed sleeping arrangement. As Birdie slowly begins to heal from her past, she is forced to confront the fact that maybe the person who has always felt like home has been standing right beside her all along.
What I Loved:
For a novella, this relationship feels remarkably well-developed and lived-in. Birdie and Lenny’s deep-rooted friendship is the true heart of the story; you can actively feel the years of trust, mutual affection, and quiet longing behind every single interaction. Their chemistry is absolutely electric, but it’s the comfort and emotional safety they find in each other that makes this romance stand out.
The authors do a fantastic job balancing cozy, small-town ranch vibes and heavy themes (like burnout and depression representation) with excellent plus-size FMC representation and a very healthy dose of spice (including some fun mommy kink and exhibitionism elements). It leans much more into character chemistry than a highly complex plot, but for a short contemporary romance, that formula works flawlessly here.
Audiobook Narration:
I listened to this via audio, performed in dual narration by Amy Hall and Marina Craven, and honestly, the performances elevated the entire experience. Both narrators bring so much distinct personality and emotion to Birdie and Lenny. They perfectly capture the shifting dynamic between the characters, balancing the heavier emotional beats with playful banter and undeniable attraction. Their performances make the quiet, vulnerable moments land just as beautifully as the steamier scenes.
Final Thoughts:
If you love sapphic romances featuring best-friends-to-lovers tension, cozy ranch settings, one-bed chaos, and a great balance of heart and heat, this little novella is absolutely worth adding to your TBR. I highly recommend experiencing it on audio!
Review Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook (ALC) in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birdie by C. S. Silverne and Tilly Ridge is a wonderfully fun, emotional, and tension-filled small-town sapphic romance that completely captivates from start to finish. Brimming with heartbreak, healing, and off-the-charts chemistry, this fast-paced friends-to-lovers story serves up beloved tropes like forced proximity, a one-bed situation, plus-size representation, and a delightful black cat times sunshine dynamic. While it is a quick, high-spice read, the authors expertly develop the relationship so that every bit of yearning and connection feels entirely earned.

The story follows Daisy—affectionately nicknamed Birdie—who reaches total burnout three-and-a-half months after catching her ex-fiancé cheating. Overwhelmed by the betrayal and the collapse of the future she had imagined, she escapes to her dad’s ranch in Whiskey Creek to breathe, slow down, and remember who she was before her life imploded. However, peace and quiet take an unexpected turn when her supportive, modern lingo-spouting dad decides to do a little matchmaking. He invites Daisy’s best friend, Lenny, to the ranch as part of a loving, chaotic scheme to help her heal—and ensures there is only one room and one bed for them to share.

What Daisy is also grappling with is the aftermath of a drunken, ill-advised one-night stand with Lenny right after the breakup. Lenny has quietly been in love with her all along, and that deep history adds immense emotional weight to the forced proximity. Every look, conversation, and moment of closeness carries years of hidden feelings and the terrifying risk of ruining a foundational friendship. Once they finally start talking, the floodgates open to a raw mix of anger, confusion, longing, and misunderstandings. The authors brilliant balance this heavy angst with playful banter, making the story feel both deeply heartfelt and incredibly addictive.

Watching Daisy slowly feel safe enough to trust again and accept the love that has always been right in front of her is deeply satisfying. Lenny’s charming devotion is entirely swoon-worthy, and the spicy scenes between them are absolutely scorching. Daisy's scheming dad nearly steals the show with his hilarious, over-the-top support of his daughter's sexuality, plotting against her simply because he is tired of watching her pine after the obvious love of her life.

The exceptional audio production elevates this fantastic co-write even further. The narration by Amy Hall and Mariana Craven is beautifully executed, perfectly capturing the playful humor, the intense emotional tension, and the raw vulnerability of Daisy and Lenny. Birdie is a quick, messy, heartfelt, and beautifully filthy romance that leaves readers thoroughly entertained and eager for the next installment in Whiskey Creek.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶.25


💕 Sapphic Romance
😻 Best Friend Romance
💕 Age Gap
😻 Small Town
💕 Cowgirl Romance 
😻 Cheating (But Not MCs)

⚠️ CHECK YOUR CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️

✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 & 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️

🎙Narrators: Amy Hall & Mariana Craven 🎙

Amy and Mariana really brought their voices and made this book AH-MAZING! Reading it is one thing, but having it voices was soooo  much better. Even when you can immersively read!

✨️📖 On To The Book Review 📖✨️

There has yet to be a book that Tilly has written that I haven't loved with my whole heart! And C.S. Silverne really brings us the best storylines! And how do I even begin with the spice? It is OUT OF THIS WORLD 🌎 🌎🌎

I loved getting to know Birdie and Lenny as they share their stories! Best friends who have known each other for a while but also knowing each other even more! I loved seeing their dynamic build as their story played out! Who knew eye fucking other people would really bring everything up to the surface!

I was thrilled to see the turn around of Birdie when her and Lenny really said what needed to be said between them. Being in love with your best friend has to be one of the hardest things to carry around and never tell.

I can't not tell you how much I loved Birdie's dad! He was sooo awesome and was the perfect parent. He was more than a parent, he was one of her best supporters and best friend. He knew Birdie so well and had to put a kink in her plans to help her out.

       🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵: 
                   🌶️🌶🌶.25 /5

😻 Degradation
✨️ DUB/NON Con
😻 Exhibitionism
✨️ Genital Slapping
😻 Kink Shaming In Conversation
✨️ Mommy Kink (Without Age Play)
😻 Sex In A Public Place
✨️ Somnophilia
😻 Spitting On Genitals
✨️ Squirting 💦
😻 Sex Toys

This whole book was soooooo HAWT 🔥🔥🔥🔥

There wasn't a scene that I didn't love, squeal, kick my legs and swoon over! This could have easily been a 300 page book and I would have gobbled it up!!!

Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Tilly Ridge, C.S. Silverne & Luna Lit ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚& 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.Cow

[Victoria Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooking up with your bestie in a bathroom stall never felt so right…

🐴 novella
🐴 sapphic
🐴 besties-to-lovers
🐴 one bed
🐴 age gap
🐴 small town
🐴 mommy
🐴 alternating povs

Daisy's life post-breakup from her cheating ex is pretty crap. Her HR job sucks, she's drinking to numb the pain, and her cat keeps destroying his toys while she's out. To really top things up, she drunkenly hooks-up with her best friend in the pub bathroom, and then spends the next month avoiding her. Lenny has always known that she's loved Daisy and thinks her luck has finally changed during their drunken hook-up, until her best friend starts ignoring her. With a little match-making from her father, Daisy and Lenny find themselves holed up at Whiskey Creek Ranch with only one available bedroom and not another single soul on the property. Now they're finally forced to face their feelings and take things from best friends to girlfriends.

Oh. My. Gawd. YES.

Lenny and Daisy (Birdie) were EVERYTHING! Besties-to-lovers, age gap AND sapphic all in one?? YES PLEASE!! Their chemistry was off-the-page and I ate up every single second of this book! The romance romanced. The spice spiced. And I couldn't get enough!

Also mommy? No words.

This was genuinely one of those novellas that really needed to be a full-length book! It felt like a teaser for a novel that's three times the length - give me more of Lenny & Daisy goddammit! I need more!!

Also, the tiny lil tease for the next books??? Um hello, give me the next one ASAP!! And PLEASE make it twice as long (at least), because I know I'm going to need a LOT more time with the next stories!

These two need to pair up on more sapphic stories because they are PERFECTION! BRB while I go binge every single thing either of them have written!

My fellow sapphic girlies need to get around this novella - you'll be begging for more once you reach the final page!

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW. Birdie by C.S. Silverne and Tilly Ridge was exactly the kind of book I needed and I devoured it in one sitting.

Birdie and Lenny had me hooked from page one. Best friends to lovers? One bed? Black cat x sunshine? Small-town ranch vibes? Plus-size rep? Sign me all the way up because this book delivered EVERYTHING.

This is definitely a short, fast-paced, all-spice-no-plot kind of read, but somehow these authors still managed to make Birdie and Lenny’s relationship feel so genuine and fully developed. I was invested in them immediately, and the chemistry between these two was absolutely insane. The yearning, the teasing, the way Lenny adored Birdie… I ate it up.

Also, add women calling each other mommy to my list of favorite tropes because apparently I am OBSESSED. I need every sapphic romance with this energy injected directly into my veins, thank you very much.

But honestly? Birdie’s dad stole every single scene he was in. This man was so supportive of his daughter’s sexuality that it bordered on hilariously too much, and I loved every second of it. The amount of scheming and plotting he did to get Birdie and Lenny alone together had me cackling. Imagine conspiring against your own daughter because you’re tired of watching her pine after the obvious love of her life. Icon behavior.

And then THAT ending?? Finding out Dad is getting his own book? Plus Maeve being hopelessly in love with her foster sister? Yeah, consider me completely seated because I will absolutely be back in Whiskey Creek.

Fun, spicy, ridiculously entertaining, and packed with so much heart. Wow, Lenny and Birdie absolutely owned me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great cowgirl romance! 🤠🩷

Daisy and Lenny were so much fun together, and it was beautiful watching their friendship grow into something more.

After a drunken hookup in a bar bathroom, Daisy suddenly finds herself questioning whether her feelings for her best friend have always been more than friendship. Meanwhile, Lenny is living out her dream and trying to convince herself that this is actually happening.

Daisy is also navigating a difficult period in her life after the breakdown of her previous relationship. She’s struggling with life, is mentally exhausted and I really appreciated how the story explored those feelings alongside the romance.

One of my favourite parts of the book was Daisy’s dad 😂 This man fully commits to playing matchmaker when he invites Daisy and Lenny to stay at the ranch for the weekend. His attempt to push them together was absolutely hilarious and added so much humour to the story.

It doesn’t take long for Daisy and Lenny to finally stop fighting their feelings and make things official. From there, we get plenty of sweet moments, heartfelt conversations, amazing chemistry and lots of spice 🔥

I adored these two together and loved watching them find happiness with each other. Such a fun, heartwarming and spicy friends-to-lovers romance 🥰

✨ What to expect:

🌈 Sapphic Romance

🏡 Small-Town Romance

💕 Best Friends to Lovers

☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine

🍻 Drunken Hookup

🤠 Ranch Setting

⏳ Age Gap

🧠 Depression & Burnout Rep

🩷 Plus-Size Representation

Spice Rating: 5/5 🌶️

[Manda Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She’s mine, and I’m going to protect her at any and all costs.”

📖Type- Immersive E-ARC/ALC from Luna Literary
🎧Narrators- Amy Hall + Marina Craven
📚Series- Whiskey Creek (Book 1)
🎼Song Vibe- Sleepover by Hayley Kiyoko
💬POV- Dual 1st
💞Relationship- Sapphic {FF}
🌶️Spice- Yes

📝Review📝

This is short and spicy but still has the emotional push and pull element of a friends to lovers romance. I did immersive and the narrators did such an amazing job of bringing their personalities out. Daisy “Birdie” has just ended a relationship, is burnt out from her job and hooked up with her best friend Lenny in the bathroom one night. She is now in hiding until her dad (who I love and cannot wait for his book) forces her to come home and invites Lenny as well. Lenny has been in love with Daisy and will do what she can to help her. She also has her own fears to sort through and is very jealous/protective of Daisy. I loved these two together and cannot wait for Daisy’s dad’s book.

I do feel if this was a full novel instead of a novella it would have been 5 stars I just felt it was too instant and rushed in some moments still good 4 stars

~~What to Expect~~
👢Small Town
💋Best Friends to Lovers
👢One Bed
💋Age Gap 8yrs
👢Grumpy X Sunshine
💋Depression/Burn Out Rep
👢Plus Size Rep
💋Exhibitionism

~~Quotes~~
🩷She’s the epitome of a “good girl,” but sometimes I really wish she’d let me see the bad side of her.
🩷I’ve come to the realization that I’ve been in love with her the entire time.
🩷Tell me you’re not going to run away from me again. I’ve spent enough of my life being alone
🩷You said you were finding your way back to the sun. So, be my Birdie. We’ll get you there.