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Beautiful Accidents
Stevie Adams doesn’t believe in fate, not after losing her parents in a car crash. Now twenty-eight and a star in the Chicago improv scene, Stevie puts career first. No one’s going to get in the way of her New York City dreams. When her friends beg her to tag along to go see Constance Russo, a deaf psychic, Stevie begrudgingly agrees, as long as no one makes her get a reading.
American Sign Language interpreter Bernadette Thompson has two priorities: caring for her mother and working with her best friend, Constance Russo. But when the headstrong Stevie Adams accidentally stumbles into her life, Bernadette feels an instant connection that’s so intense it frightens her. They can’t seem to stop bumping into each other, or deny their attraction.
When Stevie’s goal of starring in New York becomes more than a pipe dream, will competing desires prove their love to be everlasting or a fleeting act?
Cover Artist: Jeanine Henning
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Tags: Children / Families, Big City, Age Gap, Celebrity
Words: 86,000
American Sign Language interpreter Bernadette Thompson has two priorities: caring for her mother and working with her best friend, Constance Russo. But when the headstrong Stevie Adams accidentally stumbles into her life, Bernadette feels an instant connection that’s so intense it frightens her. They can’t seem to stop bumping into each other, or deny their attraction.
When Stevie’s goal of starring in New York becomes more than a pipe dream, will competing desires prove their love to be everlasting or a fleeting act?
Cover Artist: Jeanine Henning
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Tags: Children / Families, Big City, Age Gap, Celebrity
Words: 86,000
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2019
29 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Erin Zak
18 books352 followersErin Zak is a sapphic contemporary romance writer who loves older women, imperfect people, and beautiful places. She’s a bit dorky and quirky and tries to make sure every single one of her characters has those same qualities. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @erinzakwrites. You can also listen to her podcast, The Weekly Wine Down, where she gets tipsy with her best friends while discussing any and everything.
www.erinzak.com
www.erinzak.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 22, 2019
4.25 Stars. This was really good! Zak can be a little up and down for me but this is her best book to date. After reading the early reviews I had some high hopes for this but it was even better than I expected. I could see noticeable growth in Zak’s writing which was really nice to experience. If she can keep this high level up she’s going to be an author every lesfic fan talks about.
Stevie is an improv actor who hopes to make it to Saturday Night Live. After her Chicago improv show, she goes with her friends to see a psychic. The psychic is deaf and has an ASL interpreter named Bernadette. Stevie cannot believe the energy she feels around Bernadette. But she is only there for a reading, she won’t ever see Bernadette again or will she?
I was surprised how fast I became fully invested in this book; from the characters jobs, to the characters themselves. The main characters that sizzled around each other to the great cast of secondary characters that you either love or dislike. Everything about this book was interesting and I was never bored for a second.
While I really got into the characters and their occupations, the romance is where this book really shined. Holy chemistry Batman! I could not believe how good the chemistry in this book was. I was eating up every little describing word that Zak tossed out there. This is the perfect example of an author “showing” what two characters are feeling for each other instead of “telling”. It was really refreshing and more than once when my heart was pumping I said “damn that was well written.”
I also have to quickly mention that while this is an age-gap romance, it is almost not an issue at all. So many age-gaps have angst that seems to be all about age and it becomes tiresome. I love that it was mentioned so little that I almost forgot that there was an age difference at all.
I feel like I’m finally on a roll of some really good books. This romance is going on my favorites list of 2019, that’s how much I enjoyed it. This made me really excited about future Zak books. This is an easy one to recommend to romance fans who like a lot of chemistry and some angst.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
Stevie is an improv actor who hopes to make it to Saturday Night Live. After her Chicago improv show, she goes with her friends to see a psychic. The psychic is deaf and has an ASL interpreter named Bernadette. Stevie cannot believe the energy she feels around Bernadette. But she is only there for a reading, she won’t ever see Bernadette again or will she?
I was surprised how fast I became fully invested in this book; from the characters jobs, to the characters themselves. The main characters that sizzled around each other to the great cast of secondary characters that you either love or dislike. Everything about this book was interesting and I was never bored for a second.
While I really got into the characters and their occupations, the romance is where this book really shined. Holy chemistry Batman! I could not believe how good the chemistry in this book was. I was eating up every little describing word that Zak tossed out there. This is the perfect example of an author “showing” what two characters are feeling for each other instead of “telling”. It was really refreshing and more than once when my heart was pumping I said “damn that was well written.”
I also have to quickly mention that while this is an age-gap romance, it is almost not an issue at all. So many age-gaps have angst that seems to be all about age and it becomes tiresome. I love that it was mentioned so little that I almost forgot that there was an age difference at all.
I feel like I’m finally on a roll of some really good books. This romance is going on my favorites list of 2019, that’s how much I enjoyed it. This made me really excited about future Zak books. This is an easy one to recommend to romance fans who like a lot of chemistry and some angst.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
August 13, 2019
Congrats Erin Zak you certainly have got my attention ! This is my second book and I must say, BRAVO 👏
So first off, not a lot of authors can get the “love at first sight/touch” storyline, so for that I give you the applause you deserve Erin :)
So the connection between the 2 MCs was very believable, very hot scenes (not a lot of those though unfortunately) but most importantly they were very interesting characters, with real struggles and very relatable family issues (the dilemma of taking care of your parents vs living your own life was very interesting).
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters.. every single one of them was developed so well and the dialogue/banter between characters was so entertaining!
So the MCs are great, supporting characters are amazing, but most importantly the storyline! For me I thought it was quite entertaining and different especially the first half of the book (I love me some tarot cards and weird stuff like that).
So I highly recommend this one to everyone!
My rating is a 4.25 (had it been for the somehow rushed ending, this book would’ve scored a 5)..
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
So first off, not a lot of authors can get the “love at first sight/touch” storyline, so for that I give you the applause you deserve Erin :)
So the connection between the 2 MCs was very believable, very hot scenes (not a lot of those though unfortunately) but most importantly they were very interesting characters, with real struggles and very relatable family issues (the dilemma of taking care of your parents vs living your own life was very interesting).
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters.. every single one of them was developed so well and the dialogue/banter between characters was so entertaining!
So the MCs are great, supporting characters are amazing, but most importantly the storyline! For me I thought it was quite entertaining and different especially the first half of the book (I love me some tarot cards and weird stuff like that).
So I highly recommend this one to everyone!
My rating is a 4.25 (had it been for the somehow rushed ending, this book would’ve scored a 5)..
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
October 12, 2019
My, my. I've never read Erin Zak, but she's certainly on my radar now.
Honestly, I've been having trouble finishing lesfics lately, even if I'm enjoying them. Which is strange. So, it's such a relief to click the little 'I'm finished' for this one!
I recall getting recs for stories with a deaf love interest a while back. While this isn't exactly there, Beautiful Accidents is immersed in a world of ASL. I love the ease of how Zak writes someone signing to speaking aloud. It's done well and without any fuss.
BERNADETTE. She's in her forties, beautiful, fluent in sign language, and has so many issues that even therapy couldn't rectify and she's perfect. I'm rather taken by her. Stevie is a little jerk, but I appreciated her humor (especially when she was acting up with Laurie, my second favorite character!).
Bernadette and Stevie's chemistry is off the charts! The flirting, the light touching, the push and pull, the naughty thoughts...all these are recipes for a lovely romance blooming. It's a case of 'love at first sight' done well. The tarot reading part was so awesome, I giggled into my pillow. Their love scenes were pretty hot. I think another would've been a real treat, but I'm greedy.
I've always been a little iffy about real like celebrities/television shows mixing into fiction. It involved little interaction and it worked!
Constance sucked. The overall theme surrounding her frustrated me.
All in all, nicely done! This story's humor and writing style really pulled me in. 4.5 stars!
Honestly, I've been having trouble finishing lesfics lately, even if I'm enjoying them. Which is strange. So, it's such a relief to click the little 'I'm finished' for this one!
I recall getting recs for stories with a deaf love interest a while back. While this isn't exactly there, Beautiful Accidents is immersed in a world of ASL. I love the ease of how Zak writes someone signing to speaking aloud. It's done well and without any fuss.
BERNADETTE. She's in her forties, beautiful, fluent in sign language, and has so many issues that even therapy couldn't rectify and she's perfect. I'm rather taken by her. Stevie is a little jerk, but I appreciated her humor (especially when she was acting up with Laurie, my second favorite character!).
Bernadette and Stevie's chemistry is off the charts! The flirting, the light touching, the push and pull, the naughty thoughts...all these are recipes for a lovely romance blooming. It's a case of 'love at first sight' done well. The tarot reading part was so awesome, I giggled into my pillow. Their love scenes were pretty hot. I think another would've been a real treat, but I'm greedy.
I've always been a little iffy about real like celebrities/television shows mixing into fiction. It involved little interaction and it worked!
Constance sucked. The overall theme surrounding her frustrated me.
All in all, nicely done! This story's humor and writing style really pulled me in. 4.5 stars!
October 11, 2019
I'm just going to keep this short because there are some really good reviews out there that tell you all you need to know about this book... and it's Friday y'all. 🍸🎬🍿
+ Well written.
+ Good pacing.
+ Sizzling sex scenes.
+ Fleshed out secondary characters.
+ Seduction / flirting done right.
+ Representation of deaf / hard of hearing characters.
+ The feels. ALL the feels.
+ Did I mention the sex scenes?
- Drags a little towards the end.
- End was anti climactic. I wanted more.
- MC's were real jerks sometimes.
- Tissues required.
- A meteorite didn't fall on Connie.
There you have it ladies, a full 4* rating for this emotional hard hitter. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to finally see The Joker.
+ Well written.
+ Good pacing.
+ Sizzling sex scenes.
+ Fleshed out secondary characters.
+ Seduction / flirting done right.
+ Representation of deaf / hard of hearing characters.
+ The feels. ALL the feels.
+ Did I mention the sex scenes?
- Drags a little towards the end.
- End was anti climactic. I wanted more.
- MC's were real jerks sometimes.
- Tissues required.
- A meteorite didn't fall on Connie.
There you have it ladies, a full 4* rating for this emotional hard hitter. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to finally see The Joker.
September 25, 2019
An age gap romance featuring an improv star on the rise and an interpreter for a deaf psychic? Yes please.
Thanks to every reviewer who recommended this read. The chemistry between Stevie and Bernadette is off the charts. You know there is a time limit on their relationship but you cheer them on just the same.
Stevie is determined to leave Chicago and make her fortune as a comedian on SNL. She’s been handling life on her own terms for years and isn’t afraid to let an older woman know she finds her attractive. Bernadette is sexy and smooth and confident on the surface, but is emotionally less mature than the younger Stevie. She has the harder journey of the pair. Her unrequited love for her lifelong friend and her need to care for her mother act as a shield blocking Bernie from experiencing true love, almost like she doesn’t think she deserves to be loved. A great study of the human psyche.
Best breakup scene I’ve read in a while and in true breakup/ makeup romance genre Zak gives us a beautiful ending.
Oh yeah and I loved the tarot card readings. Very cool.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
Thanks to every reviewer who recommended this read. The chemistry between Stevie and Bernadette is off the charts. You know there is a time limit on their relationship but you cheer them on just the same.
Stevie is determined to leave Chicago and make her fortune as a comedian on SNL. She’s been handling life on her own terms for years and isn’t afraid to let an older woman know she finds her attractive. Bernadette is sexy and smooth and confident on the surface, but is emotionally less mature than the younger Stevie. She has the harder journey of the pair. Her unrequited love for her lifelong friend and her need to care for her mother act as a shield blocking Bernie from experiencing true love, almost like she doesn’t think she deserves to be loved. A great study of the human psyche.
Best breakup scene I’ve read in a while and in true breakup/ makeup romance genre Zak gives us a beautiful ending.
Oh yeah and I loved the tarot card readings. Very cool.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
September 14, 2019
Dinosaur Triplets, how’s that for a great name? Stevie is an improv actress in a troupe bearing this name and she’s one phone call away from making it to her goal, a spot on Saturday Night Live in New York. One evening, her best friend convinces her to accompany her and other colleagues to consult a psychic. Against her better judgment, Stevie agrees to go but not to have the cards read for her. She doesn’t want to know what the future holds, she’s had enough pain in her life and she’s extremely wary of anything unplanned, unexpected (which is kinda of ironic when you work in improv). Once her friends have all been called in, she finds herself alone in the psychic’s waiting room and ends up with a reading anyway. The psychic, Constance, is deaf and an interpreter, Bernadette, is there to translate the reading for her.
Bernadette’s relationship with Connie is so fucked up. She’s been in love with her half her life but besides the whole unrequited love thing, she also sort of depends on her financially. Connie’s both her boss and her best friend, which makes it close to impossible for Bernadette to tell her to back off when she interferes with her private life. Which is what happens when Bernadette can’t get Stevie out of her head.
This book made my heart ache from the start. When Stevie sees Bernadette for the first time, her breath catches. Mine did too. The way Erin Zak describes reactions, both physical and mental, pulled me in absolutely. It’s both wonderful and painful. It’s what I’m looking for in romances. It’s the best feeling.
On the flip side, it means that I was also right there with Bernadette when her anxiety flared up. I love how mental health issues are becoming more and more common in lesfic. They’re everywhere IRL so they should appear in books too. The only thing is, when it’s done well, it sometimes triggers my own anxiety and I’m not a fan of that happening. So I’ll take a break, breathe for a while and come back.
One last thing: the secondary characters are fantastic, whether it’s Stevie’s friends or both MCs’ families. I’m not going to list them all, they are wonderful, each and every one of them.
Apart from repeating how awesome this book is, I’ll just add this: do you remember the time, not so long ago, when dildos were unheard of in lesfic? Then characters began to talk about them, even bought them but you didn’t get to see them use them. And now they just exist, in so many books (such as this one), and it makes me sooo happy. They’re not a dirty little secret anymore.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bernadette’s relationship with Connie is so fucked up. She’s been in love with her half her life but besides the whole unrequited love thing, she also sort of depends on her financially. Connie’s both her boss and her best friend, which makes it close to impossible for Bernadette to tell her to back off when she interferes with her private life. Which is what happens when Bernadette can’t get Stevie out of her head.
This book made my heart ache from the start. When Stevie sees Bernadette for the first time, her breath catches. Mine did too. The way Erin Zak describes reactions, both physical and mental, pulled me in absolutely. It’s both wonderful and painful. It’s what I’m looking for in romances. It’s the best feeling.
On the flip side, it means that I was also right there with Bernadette when her anxiety flared up. I love how mental health issues are becoming more and more common in lesfic. They’re everywhere IRL so they should appear in books too. The only thing is, when it’s done well, it sometimes triggers my own anxiety and I’m not a fan of that happening. So I’ll take a break, breathe for a while and come back.
One last thing: the secondary characters are fantastic, whether it’s Stevie’s friends or both MCs’ families. I’m not going to list them all, they are wonderful, each and every one of them.
Apart from repeating how awesome this book is, I’ll just add this: do you remember the time, not so long ago, when dildos were unheard of in lesfic? Then characters began to talk about them, even bought them but you didn’t get to see them use them. And now they just exist, in so many books (such as this one), and it makes me sooo happy. They’re not a dirty little secret anymore.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 18, 2019
It's in the cards.
Stevie is an improv player in Chicago that has just auditioned for Saturday Night Live and is impatiently waiting to hear back. She begrudgingly tags along when the other players in her troupe when they decide to go get a reading from a def tarot card reader. Stevie fumbles into the room and is instantly touched by Bernadette (Bernie) who is the ASL interpreter.
I was really impressed with the overall planning of the book. There were things that were easy to predict, but I didn't mind because I kept thinking that it was a really smart idea.
It was train wreck waiting to happen, though. The author keeps letting you know that it is going to happen. Through actions and words you know that Stevie and Bernie (Can I tell you how much I loved that name? Don't ask me why.) are headed for heartbreak. Stevie's dream is SNL. She is going to go to NYC no matter what. Were the tarot cards right when they predicted sacrifices would have to be made for true love? Hmmm.
Oh the heartbreak. It hurt. I cried. So the execution of that was achingly good.
A couple of thoughts.
This reminded me a lot of 'Breaking Character' because Bernie has been in love with Connie (the tarot card reader) all of her life. Very much like Elizabeth being hung up on Grace. And like in that book, it took a sufficiently long time to move beyond it.
The one way this book suffered was with the relationship between Stevie and Bernie. It relied too heavily on this meant-to-be and cosmic connection. It was a great way for them to begin, but I would have liked to have seen more interaction with them where we SEE them falling for each other because of who they are. To me, it felt like it was based more on the meant-to-be and great sex. (Which the scenes were fast but enticingly spicy). This sounds more critical than it should be. You still get attached to these two and root for them. But this is what could have took this from a 4 star to a 5 star.
Another thing that could have elevated this if if it were released during the holidays. It was heavily Christmas focused and had it been that time of year, I think it would have evoked even more emotion.
I really liked how both Stevie and Bernie had to grow and get beyond their pasts in order to give their future a chance. It created a deepness to the book that I appreciated.
The cover is beautiful. But who is that woman? From the descriptions of the main characters, I am guessing it is supposed to be Bernie. However, there is no way that lady on the cover is pushing 50. Just saying.
Erin Zak's books keep getting better. Looking forward to the next.
I recommend this to people who love romance, lady loving, comedy troupes, improv, tarot cards, failing at trying to keep things casual, family drama, angsty break-ups, and sign language (I mean, come on.)
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
Stevie is an improv player in Chicago that has just auditioned for Saturday Night Live and is impatiently waiting to hear back. She begrudgingly tags along when the other players in her troupe when they decide to go get a reading from a def tarot card reader. Stevie fumbles into the room and is instantly touched by Bernadette (Bernie) who is the ASL interpreter.
I was really impressed with the overall planning of the book. There were things that were easy to predict, but I didn't mind because I kept thinking that it was a really smart idea.
It was train wreck waiting to happen, though. The author keeps letting you know that it is going to happen. Through actions and words you know that Stevie and Bernie (Can I tell you how much I loved that name? Don't ask me why.) are headed for heartbreak. Stevie's dream is SNL. She is going to go to NYC no matter what. Were the tarot cards right when they predicted sacrifices would have to be made for true love? Hmmm.
Oh the heartbreak. It hurt. I cried. So the execution of that was achingly good.
A couple of thoughts.
This reminded me a lot of 'Breaking Character' because Bernie has been in love with Connie (the tarot card reader) all of her life. Very much like Elizabeth being hung up on Grace. And like in that book, it took a sufficiently long time to move beyond it.
The one way this book suffered was with the relationship between Stevie and Bernie. It relied too heavily on this meant-to-be and cosmic connection. It was a great way for them to begin, but I would have liked to have seen more interaction with them where we SEE them falling for each other because of who they are. To me, it felt like it was based more on the meant-to-be and great sex. (Which the scenes were fast but enticingly spicy). This sounds more critical than it should be. You still get attached to these two and root for them. But this is what could have took this from a 4 star to a 5 star.
Another thing that could have elevated this if if it were released during the holidays. It was heavily Christmas focused and had it been that time of year, I think it would have evoked even more emotion.
I really liked how both Stevie and Bernie had to grow and get beyond their pasts in order to give their future a chance. It created a deepness to the book that I appreciated.
The cover is beautiful. But who is that woman? From the descriptions of the main characters, I am guessing it is supposed to be Bernie. However, there is no way that lady on the cover is pushing 50. Just saying.
Erin Zak's books keep getting better. Looking forward to the next.
I recommend this to people who love romance, lady loving, comedy troupes, improv, tarot cards, failing at trying to keep things casual, family drama, angsty break-ups, and sign language (I mean, come on.)
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
August 8, 2019
First off, Erin Zak keeps churning out creative storylines that make for some compelling read! Her latest, "Beautiful Accidents," was no exception. Two intriguing characters with professions that I'd never read about before along with a deaf secondary character playing a pivotal role in one of the MCs' journey in a setting that was utterly original, not to mention, eye-opening for me. In other words, perfect ingredients for an original romance, imo, and I utterly enjoyed it!
First chapter alone had me laughing out loud with all the verbal shenanigans between Stevie and her Improv mates!! Stevie's character especially her wit, her humour, her brash attitude were depicted in a very personal way. Interesting! I definitely believed that she was an improv comic! BTW, never seen a live improv before but when Zak described the on-stage improv performance, it reminded me of the old show, "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" which I caught some episodes of on the telly when I was a kid.
I absolutely loved how Stevie and Bernie, the ASL interpreter for Connie, her BFF, first met at Connie's psychic tarot card reading shop. Nevermind that it was totally an accident meeting of psychic proportions when Stevie literally fell on Bernie's lap!! Needless to say, what happened next was magical, mystical, whimsical, metaphysical as Zak convincingly described that instant spark between them that ignited their souls within, like two halves finally reunited as one! What was incredible was that they'd never met before in their lives. But that connection....soul mates? An accident awaiting them?
Full commentary here.... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC of this book, by BSB via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
First chapter alone had me laughing out loud with all the verbal shenanigans between Stevie and her Improv mates!! Stevie's character especially her wit, her humour, her brash attitude were depicted in a very personal way. Interesting! I definitely believed that she was an improv comic! BTW, never seen a live improv before but when Zak described the on-stage improv performance, it reminded me of the old show, "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" which I caught some episodes of on the telly when I was a kid.
I absolutely loved how Stevie and Bernie, the ASL interpreter for Connie, her BFF, first met at Connie's psychic tarot card reading shop. Nevermind that it was totally an accident meeting of psychic proportions when Stevie literally fell on Bernie's lap!! Needless to say, what happened next was magical, mystical, whimsical, metaphysical as Zak convincingly described that instant spark between them that ignited their souls within, like two halves finally reunited as one! What was incredible was that they'd never met before in their lives. But that connection....soul mates? An accident awaiting them?
Full commentary here.... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC of this book, by BSB via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
September 20, 2019
I enjoyed this so much more than I did the two other novels I’ve read by Zak, probably because it didn’t hit my triggers around adoption. Stevie Adams is a good improv actor with a shot at getting on to Saturday Night Live. It’s the goal she’s set for herself and nothing is going to stop her. Her cast mates talk her into going to see a deaf psychic and she goes, but very reluctantly. What she doesn’t expect is her reaction to the psychic’s interpreter, Bernadette Thompson. Bernadette feels the connection but her life revolves around her aging mother and she definitely doesn’t have time for a relationship.
Both characters are attractive and their motives are really well-expressed. Their attraction for each other is palpable and it’s easy to become invested in their relationship. I flew through the pages but it has taken a while to get to the review but I’m having no trouble recollecting the story.
The secondary characters are as interesting as the mains with loads of complexities in the relationships. I like the way Zak writes, especially how she builds up the drama and angst, and I’m looking forward to the next novel.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Both characters are attractive and their motives are really well-expressed. Their attraction for each other is palpable and it’s easy to become invested in their relationship. I flew through the pages but it has taken a while to get to the review but I’m having no trouble recollecting the story.
The secondary characters are as interesting as the mains with loads of complexities in the relationships. I like the way Zak writes, especially how she builds up the drama and angst, and I’m looking forward to the next novel.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
August 22, 2019
4.25 stars - I was surprised by the originality of the storyline when I read Zak’s previous novel, but the author did it once more with Beautiful Accidents.
After losing both her parents in a car crash when she was 7, Stevie is terrified of accidents. Focused on her improv career, she’s prepared to sacrifice anything in order to make it to New York and star on Saturday Night Live. Her plans are somewhat derailed when she literally stumbles into Bernadette, an ASL interpreter. Pushing 50, Bernadette has always lived for others in order to avoid living her own life. Bernie’s been in love with her best friend, Connie since they were in high school. Connie has never and will never reciprocate her feelings, but Bernadette can’t seem to let go. When she catches Stevie’s fall at the psychic parlour where she interprets for Connie, they both feel a spark that unsettles them. From that moment on, a chain of beautiful accidents keeps bringing them together.
You know how sometimes you just pick up the right book at the right time? Beautiful Accidents was one of them for me. I could really identify with what Bernadette was going through, how she was feeling, and so I got very emotional reading this novel. I laughed, I cried...
I am usually not a fan of insta-love romance, but in this case, it’s done really well and it sort of goes hand in hand with the theme of the novel. Both MCs are likable, and there’s amazing chemistry between them. As soon as they met, I could feel their connection and rooted for them to get their happily ever after. I love that the age-gap between them isn’t an issue at all and it isn’t used as an excuse to create unnecessary drama.
Honestly, apart from the rushed ending, there’s nothing I didn’t like about this book. The narration is great, the dialogue flows naturally and the cast of characters and the atmosphere Zak created are…cozy? I don’t know how else to describe it. I just had a good time reading it. It was a comforting read somehow. I think the fact that it took place in the fall/winter, during the holidays, made it even more special.
I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
After losing both her parents in a car crash when she was 7, Stevie is terrified of accidents. Focused on her improv career, she’s prepared to sacrifice anything in order to make it to New York and star on Saturday Night Live. Her plans are somewhat derailed when she literally stumbles into Bernadette, an ASL interpreter. Pushing 50, Bernadette has always lived for others in order to avoid living her own life. Bernie’s been in love with her best friend, Connie since they were in high school. Connie has never and will never reciprocate her feelings, but Bernadette can’t seem to let go. When she catches Stevie’s fall at the psychic parlour where she interprets for Connie, they both feel a spark that unsettles them. From that moment on, a chain of beautiful accidents keeps bringing them together.
You know how sometimes you just pick up the right book at the right time? Beautiful Accidents was one of them for me. I could really identify with what Bernadette was going through, how she was feeling, and so I got very emotional reading this novel. I laughed, I cried...
I am usually not a fan of insta-love romance, but in this case, it’s done really well and it sort of goes hand in hand with the theme of the novel. Both MCs are likable, and there’s amazing chemistry between them. As soon as they met, I could feel their connection and rooted for them to get their happily ever after. I love that the age-gap between them isn’t an issue at all and it isn’t used as an excuse to create unnecessary drama.
Honestly, apart from the rushed ending, there’s nothing I didn’t like about this book. The narration is great, the dialogue flows naturally and the cast of characters and the atmosphere Zak created are…cozy? I don’t know how else to describe it. I just had a good time reading it. It was a comforting read somehow. I think the fact that it took place in the fall/winter, during the holidays, made it even more special.
I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
I've long wanted to read some of Erin Zak's work and this is my first so far. I really liked it! Primarily because of the originality of the story, the MCs actually communicated with one another in a healthy manner, one of the conflicts was honest and heartbreakingly relatable, and two of the secondary characters were deaf (which is something rarely seen in lesfic.) This is also an age gap romance and I liked that there was very little made of that aspect of it, in spite of the fact that it's a pretty significant one. Refreshing.
Both Stevie and Bernadette come from different cultures as well, one being of Polish descent and the other Italian, and it was nice seeing their family dynamics and interpersonal relationships. They had some hard but honest conversations early on in their relationship and neither of them lied or flinched. Even when it would have been easier to have been a little less honest, or just walk away altogether. I took note of that right away and appreciated it because again, that's rare.
Sometimes in these romances you don't quite get why one falls for the other - especially when the characters are so different - but it was completely understandable here. It definitely felt like fate.
While I'd like to talk more about that relatable conflict, I feel like saying more would give an important aspect of the story away. I'll only say that I think many of us have had a similar experience and it's a tough one to move on from. The glaring challenge we learn about upfront is that Stevie's dream is to make it onto Saturday Night Live, which would require her to move from Chicago to New York City, and she won't let anything - or anyone - get in the way of that. So we know it's coming - it's just a matter of seeing if and how they will overcome it.
I recommend this book and will seek out more from Zak! 4.25 stars
Both Stevie and Bernadette come from different cultures as well, one being of Polish descent and the other Italian, and it was nice seeing their family dynamics and interpersonal relationships. They had some hard but honest conversations early on in their relationship and neither of them lied or flinched. Even when it would have been easier to have been a little less honest, or just walk away altogether. I took note of that right away and appreciated it because again, that's rare.
Sometimes in these romances you don't quite get why one falls for the other - especially when the characters are so different - but it was completely understandable here. It definitely felt like fate.
While I'd like to talk more about that relatable conflict, I feel like saying more would give an important aspect of the story away. I'll only say that I think many of us have had a similar experience and it's a tough one to move on from. The glaring challenge we learn about upfront is that Stevie's dream is to make it onto Saturday Night Live, which would require her to move from Chicago to New York City, and she won't let anything - or anyone - get in the way of that. So we know it's coming - it's just a matter of seeing if and how they will overcome it.
I recommend this book and will seek out more from Zak! 4.25 stars
August 9, 2019
This book is amazing! I think I said in my head this Beautiful Accidents is a beautifully crafted masterpiece. Okay listen, I am not exaggerating. Zak brings together two MC's that have there share of issues. Bernadette has self esteem issues along with anxiety. She is also being controlled by unrequited love and her home situation. Stevie on the other hand is only focused on her career and doesn't like to be tied down mainly because she lost her parents in an accident when she was 7. So normally what we see is a writer who makes one character the jaded unlikable character and normally the other one is more likable. In Beautiful Accidents, we get two MC's that despite their issues are actually very likeable. I did find myself not liking some of their actions - Mainly Bernadette, BUT she is still such an enjoyable character.
Erin Zak gives us chemistry, a wonderful connection and ultimately love. I can honestly say that many romances haven't been able to pull off that love a first sight/touch kinda thing, but I feel it in this one. From the moment Bernadette and Stevie cross paths you can see the Beautiful Accidents taking place. Some call it fate! Listen, I have to also give credit to how the sex scenes are done in this one. I didn't feel overwhelmed or even underwhelmed when reading these scenes. I found it to be a perfect balance and well done. I only had one slight issue with the ending after I was finished. To be honest, after I reflected upon it, I sort or changed my mind and was happy that Stevie was able to be strong (I can't give more than that).
I happily give this romance a 5 star rating!
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Erin Zak gives us chemistry, a wonderful connection and ultimately love. I can honestly say that many romances haven't been able to pull off that love a first sight/touch kinda thing, but I feel it in this one. From the moment Bernadette and Stevie cross paths you can see the Beautiful Accidents taking place. Some call it fate! Listen, I have to also give credit to how the sex scenes are done in this one. I didn't feel overwhelmed or even underwhelmed when reading these scenes. I found it to be a perfect balance and well done. I only had one slight issue with the ending after I was finished. To be honest, after I reflected upon it, I sort or changed my mind and was happy that Stevie was able to be strong (I can't give more than that).
I happily give this romance a 5 star rating!
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
November 9, 2019
So, even though this happened...... "The ride in the elevator was quiet save for the soft chewing Stevie could hear as Bernadette worked at the piece of gum n her mouth. Stevie watched her in the mirrored doors, watched as she studied the floor, watched as she blew a bubble and quickly popped it with her full red lips."...... I managed to contain my urge to throw Bernadette down the elevator shaft to continue the book.
And boy I am glad I did! Points for Ms. Zak on this one, I enjoyed this story from start to finish, loud chewing noises aside (*shudder*, big pet peeve). Stevie is an improv actor in Chicago who dreams of making it big, and stumbles upon Bernadette (literally) in a psychic reader's lair, where Bernadette is the ASL interpreter. Immediate attraction, CHECK, and I felt the sparks. Some people aren't into the insta-attraction angle but I am fond of it for so many reasons. The MCs both drew me in, with Stevie's sharp wit and Bernadette's grace and loyalty. There are no real surprises here people, this was just a very well written story that deals with complex dynamics both with family obligations and friendships, both of which help shape both characters throughout the book. I was truly rooting for both of them.
The heat was palpable, the intimate scenes on POINT, hooray. These two could get in on like nobody's business. Connie the psychic/best friend of Bernadette was a piece of work, and not in a good way, and I got quite frustrated the storyline b/w her and Bernie. Bernie wasted so much time......ugh.
The ending was somewhat abrupt and I really could have done with an epilogue, but other than that, cool stuff here, Ms. Zak. 4/5!
And boy I am glad I did! Points for Ms. Zak on this one, I enjoyed this story from start to finish, loud chewing noises aside (*shudder*, big pet peeve). Stevie is an improv actor in Chicago who dreams of making it big, and stumbles upon Bernadette (literally) in a psychic reader's lair, where Bernadette is the ASL interpreter. Immediate attraction, CHECK, and I felt the sparks. Some people aren't into the insta-attraction angle but I am fond of it for so many reasons. The MCs both drew me in, with Stevie's sharp wit and Bernadette's grace and loyalty. There are no real surprises here people, this was just a very well written story that deals with complex dynamics both with family obligations and friendships, both of which help shape both characters throughout the book. I was truly rooting for both of them.
The heat was palpable, the intimate scenes on POINT, hooray. These two could get in on like nobody's business. Connie the psychic/best friend of Bernadette was a piece of work, and not in a good way, and I got quite frustrated the storyline b/w her and Bernie. Bernie wasted so much time......ugh.
The ending was somewhat abrupt and I really could have done with an epilogue, but other than that, cool stuff here, Ms. Zak. 4/5!
September 7, 2019
American Sign Language interpreter, improv actor, and a deaf psychic, what an engaging read. Stevie and Bernadette's story is not your typical lesbian story. Unique professions with two people not looking for forever. Stevie Adams, has dreams and is driven to stay the course. I appreciate the self-talk as she thought about life, success, and what happiness looks like. Bernadette (I really like that name) Thompson, dealing with unrequited love, promises made, and a future without love. Both of these women tugged on my heart strings as they worked to figure out how to deal with their attraction and future. I like the detail information shared about the MCs and most of their family and friends. I must say, Constance Russo, a character that is difficult to like but a very important part of the story.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes books via NetGalley with thanks.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes books via NetGalley with thanks.
September 5, 2019
Stevie Adams is a star in the Chicago improv scene and waiting for the break of her career after auditioning for Saturday Night Live (SNL). One night after a show, she joins her fellow performers when they decide to see Constance Russo, a deaf psychic. Stevie is reluctant and does not want to get a reading, but literally stumbles through the beaded curtain where she meets Constance and Bernadette Thompson. Bernie is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for Constance along with being her lifelong friend. Bernie and Stevie have a moment ignited by an electrical first touch. A few accidental meetings bring them together even when the relationship already has an expiration date since Stevie will be moving to New York City and Bernie lives with her elderly mother. Can their love survive all these hurdles?
The scene at the psychic where the main characters meet was great. It immediately grabbed my attention and even made me a little giddy. The tarot card reading made it all the more alluring. I have to say, I have never seen a psychic or gotten any kind of reading done. I fear hearing things and letting them influence my life. My own apprehension about the reading was mirrored by Stevie, who lost her parents in a car accident and wants nothing to do with fate. However, I can admit I was intrigued by the reading and enjoyed it (hey, it was not mine so I could!). Kudos to Ms Zak for creating such a great and original scene.
This story also happens to be an age gap romance. Stevie is twenty eight years old and Bernie is almost fifty. I’m not crazy about this category, but mostly it was a non issue in this book and the chemistry was fabulous for the most part. I guess the only issue was expecting Bernie to be more independent at her age. She lives at home with her deaf but otherwise healthy mother so the need to stay home was not a great reason for the book’s events. Perhaps I’m a little on the extreme independence side but I would have totally not been ok with someone that attached to their family, especially when Bernie’s brother was leaving town after getting a promotion.
Since I’m ranting about one of the older characters, let me rant about Constance. I thought the character was great but then realized she was basically evil. She knew Bernie was in love with her and spent a lifetime under the shadow of loving a straight woman but only made it harder for Bernie to be happy. Turns out when Constance finally had to, she had the perfect advice for Bernie: ‘Start living your life for you’. Twisted, selfish love. Young Stevie with her career first mentality seemed more selfless and mature than the other two characters. So yes, I found this a little frustrating.
The book is otherwise well written with some great secondary characters. I really liked the premise of the psychic and the deaf characters, creating room for a non typical profession such as ASL interpreter. Improv performer was nice as well as was the inclusion of a prominent show such as SNL. We can all immediately recognize how big this opportunity was for Stevie’s character...and why the only path was for Bernie to move and leave her family behind, but I digress.
Overall an age gap romance with an interesting premise and a predictable plot. 3.5 stars
ARC generously provided to me by BSB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The scene at the psychic where the main characters meet was great. It immediately grabbed my attention and even made me a little giddy. The tarot card reading made it all the more alluring. I have to say, I have never seen a psychic or gotten any kind of reading done. I fear hearing things and letting them influence my life. My own apprehension about the reading was mirrored by Stevie, who lost her parents in a car accident and wants nothing to do with fate. However, I can admit I was intrigued by the reading and enjoyed it (hey, it was not mine so I could!). Kudos to Ms Zak for creating such a great and original scene.
This story also happens to be an age gap romance. Stevie is twenty eight years old and Bernie is almost fifty. I’m not crazy about this category, but mostly it was a non issue in this book and the chemistry was fabulous for the most part. I guess the only issue was expecting Bernie to be more independent at her age. She lives at home with her deaf but otherwise healthy mother so the need to stay home was not a great reason for the book’s events. Perhaps I’m a little on the extreme independence side but I would have totally not been ok with someone that attached to their family, especially when Bernie’s brother was leaving town after getting a promotion.
Since I’m ranting about one of the older characters, let me rant about Constance. I thought the character was great but then realized she was basically evil. She knew Bernie was in love with her and spent a lifetime under the shadow of loving a straight woman but only made it harder for Bernie to be happy. Turns out when Constance finally had to, she had the perfect advice for Bernie: ‘Start living your life for you’. Twisted, selfish love. Young Stevie with her career first mentality seemed more selfless and mature than the other two characters. So yes, I found this a little frustrating.
The book is otherwise well written with some great secondary characters. I really liked the premise of the psychic and the deaf characters, creating room for a non typical profession such as ASL interpreter. Improv performer was nice as well as was the inclusion of a prominent show such as SNL. We can all immediately recognize how big this opportunity was for Stevie’s character...and why the only path was for Bernie to move and leave her family behind, but I digress.
Overall an age gap romance with an interesting premise and a predictable plot. 3.5 stars
ARC generously provided to me by BSB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 2, 2020
This is the second book in a row wherein I’ve now read a second book by an author who I’d read the debut, then didn’t read anything else by them. In the case of Erin Zak, as opposed to Maggie Cummings, who was the author of the previous book, I’d read and loved the first book I’d read by Zak. I was in the minority there, though. Most of my friends kind of hated it (3.29 isn’t hating, but I’m lowering that ‘3.29’ by those readers that marked the book DNF that did not have a rating). No, that isn’t why I didn’t continue with Zak, I didn’t continue because I’d tried, I believe, her second book and DNF’d it. Only made it 16%. Course the friends average was 4 for that one so . . . .heh, hmms.
Like with the Cummings book, a sale occurred, so I bought another Zak book. I mean, I did give the first book I read by them 5 stars sooo, eventually I was going to need to try them again.
Right, so, this book takes place in Chicago and stays there for about . . . hmms, 90% of the book. A tiny segment takes place in New York. The book has two point of view characters: Stevie Adams (28) – improv actor, and Bernadette Thompson (~48? 49?), American Sign Language interpreter. I’m unsure about Bernadette’s age as I do not think it was ever explicitly stated, though there’s some comment about her being almost 50. Weird thing was that I spent most of the book thinking Bernadette was closer to Stevie’s age, or, at most, 35.
The two main characters meet when Stevie and her improv group go to a psychic reading. Bernadette is the interpreter to a deaf psychic named Constance Russo.
I mostly liked Stevie Adams, reminded me of Kate McKinnon (or, at least, I was picturing a 28 year old Kate playing Stevie or something like that. No, that’s not right. Hmms. I was picturing Stevie playing Kate? bah). Stevie’s friends/co-workers were basically okay. Kinda dicks, but okay-ish. And Stevie’s grandma and the like were mostly okay. It’s hard to tell, for the most part, if my belief that everyone on Bernadette’s side, other than the mother, were hard to take dick-wads is accurate or not. Because, a reader rapidly learns, Bernadette kind of hates everyone around her. And sees them in a negative light, except, again, the mother (and we, the readers, mostly see them through Bernadette, though occasionally through Stevie’s POV). Though including Constance – the love of her life. Straight, married with children Constance. Constance who throws a fit if Bernadette tries to have a life and/or do anything other than what Constance wants done. There’s no question Constance is a major major villain type of person.
I did not initially feel a particular way about Bernadette, but it really did grow on me. The feeling that I kind of despised her. Her negativity, her passive-aggressiveness, her hatred of others that seemed colored by how they were hampering her life (her hatred of her brother’s wife seemed to boil down to: the wife wanted Paul to spend time with her, the wife, and not always be running off to ‘help’ Bernadette with their mother). That’s another thing I kind of loathed about Bernadette. The mother part. Though it came out in this book with everyone else in the book starring, pointing, and then loudly condemning Bernadette for her actions (that kept me from negatively rating the book for this issue). The mother is firm, capable, quite able to live her life but Bernadette treats her as if she were fragile, incapable, and needing 24/7 help. Because the mother is deaf? Well . . . partially, mostly because the father, I guess on his death bed, forced Bernadette to promise to watch out over the mother. Though I am not certain if the father actually wanted Bernadette to be a clingy barnacle on the mother’s life, keeping her captive in the home, always there, never giving her room to breathe. I feel sorry for Bernadette’s mother. On one level. On another level I recognized that the mother was kind of taking advantage of Bernadette’s need to be clingy. The mother was a strong firm woman – she could have put her foot down at some point before . . . apparently the point she did in this book though it went unseen by the reader.
Right, so. Stevie and Bernadette date even though Bernadette doesn’t feel free to date, and even though Stevie keeps telling everyone, probably even trees she passes on walks, that she’s about to move to New York to join Saturday Night Live. You know, if they ever get back to her.
That’s kind of a show of love, right? If everyone around you sees the person you love as a loathsome shrew, and yet . . .wait, no, that’s just me. Everyone in the book liked Bernadette. For the most part.
Hmm. How the heck did I end up rating this book 3.75 stars? Heh. I think I liked it a lot more when I read it than I do now, three days later, as I sit here writing a review.
Right, my brain is obviously faulty, so I’ll move on.
Rating: 3.75
March 2, 2020
Like with the Cummings book, a sale occurred, so I bought another Zak book. I mean, I did give the first book I read by them 5 stars sooo, eventually I was going to need to try them again.
Right, so, this book takes place in Chicago and stays there for about . . . hmms, 90% of the book. A tiny segment takes place in New York. The book has two point of view characters: Stevie Adams (28) – improv actor, and Bernadette Thompson (~48? 49?), American Sign Language interpreter. I’m unsure about Bernadette’s age as I do not think it was ever explicitly stated, though there’s some comment about her being almost 50. Weird thing was that I spent most of the book thinking Bernadette was closer to Stevie’s age, or, at most, 35.
The two main characters meet when Stevie and her improv group go to a psychic reading. Bernadette is the interpreter to a deaf psychic named Constance Russo.
I mostly liked Stevie Adams, reminded me of Kate McKinnon (or, at least, I was picturing a 28 year old Kate playing Stevie or something like that. No, that’s not right. Hmms. I was picturing Stevie playing Kate? bah). Stevie’s friends/co-workers were basically okay. Kinda dicks, but okay-ish. And Stevie’s grandma and the like were mostly okay. It’s hard to tell, for the most part, if my belief that everyone on Bernadette’s side, other than the mother, were hard to take dick-wads is accurate or not. Because, a reader rapidly learns, Bernadette kind of hates everyone around her. And sees them in a negative light, except, again, the mother (and we, the readers, mostly see them through Bernadette, though occasionally through Stevie’s POV). Though including Constance – the love of her life. Straight, married with children Constance. Constance who throws a fit if Bernadette tries to have a life and/or do anything other than what Constance wants done. There’s no question Constance is a major major villain type of person.
I did not initially feel a particular way about Bernadette, but it really did grow on me. The feeling that I kind of despised her. Her negativity, her passive-aggressiveness, her hatred of others that seemed colored by how they were hampering her life (her hatred of her brother’s wife seemed to boil down to: the wife wanted Paul to spend time with her, the wife, and not always be running off to ‘help’ Bernadette with their mother). That’s another thing I kind of loathed about Bernadette. The mother part. Though it came out in this book with everyone else in the book starring, pointing, and then loudly condemning Bernadette for her actions (that kept me from negatively rating the book for this issue). The mother is firm, capable, quite able to live her life but Bernadette treats her as if she were fragile, incapable, and needing 24/7 help. Because the mother is deaf? Well . . . partially, mostly because the father, I guess on his death bed, forced Bernadette to promise to watch out over the mother. Though I am not certain if the father actually wanted Bernadette to be a clingy barnacle on the mother’s life, keeping her captive in the home, always there, never giving her room to breathe. I feel sorry for Bernadette’s mother. On one level. On another level I recognized that the mother was kind of taking advantage of Bernadette’s need to be clingy. The mother was a strong firm woman – she could have put her foot down at some point before . . . apparently the point she did in this book though it went unseen by the reader.
Right, so. Stevie and Bernadette date even though Bernadette doesn’t feel free to date, and even though Stevie keeps telling everyone, probably even trees she passes on walks, that she’s about to move to New York to join Saturday Night Live. You know, if they ever get back to her.
That’s kind of a show of love, right? If everyone around you sees the person you love as a loathsome shrew, and yet . . .wait, no, that’s just me. Everyone in the book liked Bernadette. For the most part.
Hmm. How the heck did I end up rating this book 3.75 stars? Heh. I think I liked it a lot more when I read it than I do now, three days later, as I sit here writing a review.
Right, my brain is obviously faulty, so I’ll move on.
Rating: 3.75
March 2, 2020
February 19, 2020
Y'all, finally a couple who actually communicate instead of assuming stuff. This was a novel experience. Loved it!
September 23, 2019
This is an interesting and amusing romance, traditional in the overall arc but with some twists that make it stand out. Its an age gap romance for a start (late 20s and late 40’s), and neither of the main characters want a romance - both have absolutely solid life choices which they have no intention of breaking – really.
Bernie is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for her best friend Constance, who is also the unrequited love of her life. Bernie not only wallows in the fruitless adoration but lets Constance control her life – what little life she allows herself outside of providing unwanted care for her deaf mother. Stevie is a rising improv star who’s overwhelming and life controlling dream is to make it to Saturday Night Live – nothing and nobody will stand in her way.
Of course love has a way of breaking down barriers and changing the most determined mind. Erin Zak delivers the whole with great style, excellent writing, a lot of wit and some serious laughs. It’s all about letting go and allowing life to happen, both women have an emotional lesson to learn and a journey to free themselves. “Beautiful Accidents” is a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and its great to read a book which includes a physical impairment without ever making it an issue.
Bernie is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for her best friend Constance, who is also the unrequited love of her life. Bernie not only wallows in the fruitless adoration but lets Constance control her life – what little life she allows herself outside of providing unwanted care for her deaf mother. Stevie is a rising improv star who’s overwhelming and life controlling dream is to make it to Saturday Night Live – nothing and nobody will stand in her way.
Of course love has a way of breaking down barriers and changing the most determined mind. Erin Zak delivers the whole with great style, excellent writing, a lot of wit and some serious laughs. It’s all about letting go and allowing life to happen, both women have an emotional lesson to learn and a journey to free themselves. “Beautiful Accidents” is a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and its great to read a book which includes a physical impairment without ever making it an issue.
August 26, 2019
Not Accidently Beautiful…
No, this lovely drama is definitely beautiful because of the lovely writing, story line and the emotions and descriptions. Bernadette is in a bad place and only sort of living. She is adrift and in dire need of an anchor. Stevie is driven and focused on her career and not much more. She too needs an anchor…. These two sexy women are so different and yet, not so much really. I couldn’t help but root for them in spite of their hang ups that threaten their happiness and dreams. I loved the secondary characters almost as much! The families, extended and biological were so much fun and really drove the story along. SO sweet and tender this is another win for Ms Zak!
No, this lovely drama is definitely beautiful because of the lovely writing, story line and the emotions and descriptions. Bernadette is in a bad place and only sort of living. She is adrift and in dire need of an anchor. Stevie is driven and focused on her career and not much more. She too needs an anchor…. These two sexy women are so different and yet, not so much really. I couldn’t help but root for them in spite of their hang ups that threaten their happiness and dreams. I loved the secondary characters almost as much! The families, extended and biological were so much fun and really drove the story along. SO sweet and tender this is another win for Ms Zak!
June 11, 2021
Just didn't gell for me- too much angst, too much friction - and quite hard to read.
August 6, 2019
3.5 Stars. I read this entire book in a day, it was a little addictive. This book is about Stevie Adams, a rising star on the improv scene in Chicago. She goes to s psychic, Constance Russo, with her improv friends, even though she does not believe in fate or psychics. While looking for her friends, she literally falls into the Constance/Connie's interpreter, Bernadette Thompson. Connie is deaf so she needs Bernadette to sign for her when she is working. The second Bernadette and Stevie meet, they both want to know more about each other. Stevie has a free reading by Connie and she learns she might be finding love, the one thing she is not looking for. Fate seems to have another idea as Stevie and Bernadette keep running into each other and eventually start spending time together.
I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the tension and drama between Stevie and Bernadette. Both characters seemed pretty well developed and they developed a lot throughout the novel, and they change as the novel goes on. The tension was my favorite part, as their relationship starts to evolve. The drama in the novel makes sense based on the context of what was happening in the novel. I enjoyed the story line of this book and Stevie pursuing her dreams and Bernadette caring for her mother who is elderly. I would highly recommend this novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the tension and drama between Stevie and Bernadette. Both characters seemed pretty well developed and they developed a lot throughout the novel, and they change as the novel goes on. The tension was my favorite part, as their relationship starts to evolve. The drama in the novel makes sense based on the context of what was happening in the novel. I enjoyed the story line of this book and Stevie pursuing her dreams and Bernadette caring for her mother who is elderly. I would highly recommend this novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
October 28, 2019
The author has wrapped an age-gap romance sprinkled with angst, dealing an aging parent, sign language and fear of change into a neat read. I particularly appreciate how the main characters' emotional ups and downs are written and took my time reading this book as it hit close to home (dealing with an aging mother). Thank you Ms. Zak for handling that topic so deftly. I recommend with 4 stars.
NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books provided an ARC for review.
NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books provided an ARC for review.
August 21, 2019
This book is incredible. I loved Bernie more than I can say, and related to her and Stevie both. Being able to witness their love evolve and grow was awesome. And the sex... OMG, this is the hottest book Erin Zak has ever written. I can’t wait for what the future will bring from this amazing and incredibly talented writer!
February 2, 2024
An okay read with okay protagonists. Throw in a (close) friend whom you have been crushing on for years, if not decades, and who is nothing but toxic, with a storyline that frustrates me at times. So, I'm just going to leave it at that... well, to each their own.
October 17, 2019
Damn. I feel so bad for not liking this one. But before I delve into the reasons, I wanna talk about the things I liked first.
The premise itself was interesting. As someone who watches tarot readings on YouTube and finds it fascinating how on point they are at times, I thought it was nice to read something that has this practice included in the plot.
The portion showing Stevie's family dynamics was something I enjoyed as well. It was fun witnessing how they interact with each other, and I wish we could've seen more of Bernadette included in that setting.
Now, back to the things I didn't like...
Age Gap
I generally don't have problems with age gaps, but in this case, it was too much. I couldn't wrap my head around Bernadette being almost 50 because she doesn't act like it. While imagining she's as beautiful as Monica Bellucci CERTAINLY helps, I just don't see an almost-50-year-old making decisions and acting the same way Bernadette does.
Chemistry
Where was it? I understand the MCs were destined, but we can't just let the tarot cards do all the talking, can we? Other than the physical attraction, and "magic" that happened when the MCs first accidentally touched each other, WHERE WAS THE CHEMISTRY? This has insta-love written all over it, which I'm not exactly fond of.
Connie
Oh, boy. Bernadette's relationship with this woman is the epitome of problematic. I don't care how complicated your relationship is with someone, but as soon as I know you're in love with that person WHILE entertaining the idea of being with me, I'm out the door. It doesn't even make sense that Stevie wasn't bothered by this. I mean, come on, girl. How could you sell yourself short?
To make matters worse, that "closure" scene between Bernadette and Connie was so awful, I almost wanted Stevie to have witnessed it and ask her, "Look! Does that sound like a person who's devoting her whole heart to you?!"
The Conflict
Never mind that there was no surprise about the major conflict. But is it just me, or the entire time while reading this, the answer to the conflict was staring us right in the face? I can't count the number of times I rolled my eyes at Bernadette for her stubbornness in refusing the solution. Seriously!
Dialogue
I'm one of those people who's extremely put off by foul-mouthed characters, so unless it's a necessary attribute to portray their role, absolutely avoid it. I don't mind characters cussing. But when the mood is lighthearted, it's so unbecoming to hear characters curse or talk indecently.
Overall, the writing was okay. Story-wise though, I didn't connect with it nor with the characters. This would've been a 2-star book if it didn't frustrate me for the most part.
The premise itself was interesting. As someone who watches tarot readings on YouTube and finds it fascinating how on point they are at times, I thought it was nice to read something that has this practice included in the plot.
The portion showing Stevie's family dynamics was something I enjoyed as well. It was fun witnessing how they interact with each other, and I wish we could've seen more of Bernadette included in that setting.
Now, back to the things I didn't like...
Age Gap
I generally don't have problems with age gaps, but in this case, it was too much. I couldn't wrap my head around Bernadette being almost 50 because she doesn't act like it. While imagining she's as beautiful as Monica Bellucci CERTAINLY helps, I just don't see an almost-50-year-old making decisions and acting the same way Bernadette does.
Chemistry
Where was it? I understand the MCs were destined, but we can't just let the tarot cards do all the talking, can we? Other than the physical attraction, and "magic" that happened when the MCs first accidentally touched each other, WHERE WAS THE CHEMISTRY? This has insta-love written all over it, which I'm not exactly fond of.
Connie
Oh, boy. Bernadette's relationship with this woman is the epitome of problematic. I don't care how complicated your relationship is with someone, but as soon as I know you're in love with that person WHILE entertaining the idea of being with me, I'm out the door. It doesn't even make sense that Stevie wasn't bothered by this. I mean, come on, girl. How could you sell yourself short?
To make matters worse, that "closure" scene between Bernadette and Connie was so awful, I almost wanted Stevie to have witnessed it and ask her, "Look! Does that sound like a person who's devoting her whole heart to you?!"
The Conflict
Never mind that there was no surprise about the major conflict. But is it just me, or the entire time while reading this, the answer to the conflict was staring us right in the face? I can't count the number of times I rolled my eyes at Bernadette for her stubbornness in refusing the solution. Seriously!
Dialogue
I'm one of those people who's extremely put off by foul-mouthed characters, so unless it's a necessary attribute to portray their role, absolutely avoid it. I don't mind characters cussing. But when the mood is lighthearted, it's so unbecoming to hear characters curse or talk indecently.
Overall, the writing was okay. Story-wise though, I didn't connect with it nor with the characters. This would've been a 2-star book if it didn't frustrate me for the most part.
September 7, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my favourite of Zak’s so far. Here we have MC Stevie, an improv actor who’s auditioned for SNL and is waiting to see if she gets her big break. The other MC is Bernadette, who is a ASL interpreter for her deaf, psychic, straight best friend, who she also happens to be in love with.
Now, usually I’m not a fan of books with the whole ‘lesbian character in love with their straight best friend’, unless the two of them are endgame. But when it’s just the lesbian character pining for the friend, it’s less fun. There’s a whole lot of that going on here, and I admit to being frustrated with Bernadette over that, especially given her age and how long this had been going on, but her chemistry and romance with Stevie easily off-set that. The two of them hit it off immediately after Stevie has a reading with Connie and there’s a lot of cute ‘accidents’ that keep bringing them together.
I also loved the secondary characters, Stevie’s family (especially Harper) and her BFF Laurie and Bernadette’s family are all wonderful characters, I especially liked that her brother was not at all the deadbeat I thought he was at the start. The only sour note here is Connie (Bernadette’s BFF), and she’s supposed to be a problem. As with the general rule of thumb of these stories, she’s mostly happy to string Bernadette on because it suits her, and she’s a selfish bitch. Thankfully everyone in this story points this out, even her own daughter, so it’s not like she was fooling anyone. But I’d have preferred Bernadette to have had a bit more of a backbone about that whole situation.
Still, I loved the romance between the two leads, how they meshed with each other’s important people, and how the inevitable breakup was resolved. There’s a fair amount of humour in this story, but it also has some really emotional moments, I had pretty much ‘all the feels’. 4 stars.
This is my favourite of Zak’s so far. Here we have MC Stevie, an improv actor who’s auditioned for SNL and is waiting to see if she gets her big break. The other MC is Bernadette, who is a ASL interpreter for her deaf, psychic, straight best friend, who she also happens to be in love with.
Now, usually I’m not a fan of books with the whole ‘lesbian character in love with their straight best friend’, unless the two of them are endgame. But when it’s just the lesbian character pining for the friend, it’s less fun. There’s a whole lot of that going on here, and I admit to being frustrated with Bernadette over that, especially given her age and how long this had been going on, but her chemistry and romance with Stevie easily off-set that. The two of them hit it off immediately after Stevie has a reading with Connie and there’s a lot of cute ‘accidents’ that keep bringing them together.
I also loved the secondary characters, Stevie’s family (especially Harper) and her BFF Laurie and Bernadette’s family are all wonderful characters, I especially liked that her brother was not at all the deadbeat I thought he was at the start. The only sour note here is Connie (Bernadette’s BFF), and she’s supposed to be a problem. As with the general rule of thumb of these stories, she’s mostly happy to string Bernadette on because it suits her, and she’s a selfish bitch. Thankfully everyone in this story points this out, even her own daughter, so it’s not like she was fooling anyone. But I’d have preferred Bernadette to have had a bit more of a backbone about that whole situation.
Still, I loved the romance between the two leads, how they meshed with each other’s important people, and how the inevitable breakup was resolved. There’s a fair amount of humour in this story, but it also has some really emotional moments, I had pretty much ‘all the feels’. 4 stars.
September 1, 2019
This book had me on the edge of my seat from the get-go. I couldn't get enough!
Stevie is making it big in the Chicago Improv scene. She has one dream, and that's to become an SNL host, and it looks like her dream is finally in reach. She doesn't have time for romantic entanglements, especially when she could be leaving Chicago as soon as she gets her big break.
Bernadette is a sign language interpreter for her best friend Constance who is a deaf psychic. When she isn't with Constance, she is caring for her elderly deaf mother and those are her main priorities.
But when Stevie is dragged by friends to see a psychic and meets Bernadette, her world is turned on its axis and she isn't the only one feeling the major spark. But Bernadette can't date a client of Constance's as part of her work agreement and Stevies leaving anyway right? But they can't seem to catch a break when they continuously bump into each other following Stevie's reading. Could it be fate? Or a disaster waiting to happen?
What a ride! This book had me glued from the moment Stevie and Bernadette are thrown together. I honest to god couldn't put it down and felt like I missed the characters as soon as I finished. The storyline itself was very compelling but I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters and their backstories that really enhanced the plot and made the book so much more exciting… If that was even possible.
No epilogue. I know I am a broken record with this one, but it's my thing. If Erin Zak wrote a short story (even one that made it to an anthology) or sequel for this book, I will happily remove this and rate it a full five stars.
The chemistry between Stevie and Bernadette is incredible, and it was emanating off the page from the moment they met. I wrote down that one of the tropes is Soulmates and that term couldn't be more accurate.
So I've just got to say this… A woman asking for what she wants in sex or a written sex scene is incredibly hot, but to do it with sass and confidence blows me away every damn time. And what blew my mind further is that the sex scene I am talking about is not the only one in there that left me a little light-headed. Hot Damn!
I was utterly taken with Bernadette and she probably gave me more heart-clenching moments than I would have ever expected from her character, but she still managed to be spunky and sexy the whole damn time. She was definitely the complete package.
There is just something about Erin Zak's writing that just gets me. Whether she is writing Ice Queens or Age Gap romances, I am captivated. Watch this space, and I am predicting great things.
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Stevie is making it big in the Chicago Improv scene. She has one dream, and that's to become an SNL host, and it looks like her dream is finally in reach. She doesn't have time for romantic entanglements, especially when she could be leaving Chicago as soon as she gets her big break.
Bernadette is a sign language interpreter for her best friend Constance who is a deaf psychic. When she isn't with Constance, she is caring for her elderly deaf mother and those are her main priorities.
But when Stevie is dragged by friends to see a psychic and meets Bernadette, her world is turned on its axis and she isn't the only one feeling the major spark. But Bernadette can't date a client of Constance's as part of her work agreement and Stevies leaving anyway right? But they can't seem to catch a break when they continuously bump into each other following Stevie's reading. Could it be fate? Or a disaster waiting to happen?
What a ride! This book had me glued from the moment Stevie and Bernadette are thrown together. I honest to god couldn't put it down and felt like I missed the characters as soon as I finished. The storyline itself was very compelling but I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters and their backstories that really enhanced the plot and made the book so much more exciting… If that was even possible.
No epilogue. I know I am a broken record with this one, but it's my thing. If Erin Zak wrote a short story (even one that made it to an anthology) or sequel for this book, I will happily remove this and rate it a full five stars.
The chemistry between Stevie and Bernadette is incredible, and it was emanating off the page from the moment they met. I wrote down that one of the tropes is Soulmates and that term couldn't be more accurate.
So I've just got to say this… A woman asking for what she wants in sex or a written sex scene is incredibly hot, but to do it with sass and confidence blows me away every damn time. And what blew my mind further is that the sex scene I am talking about is not the only one in there that left me a little light-headed. Hot Damn!
I was utterly taken with Bernadette and she probably gave me more heart-clenching moments than I would have ever expected from her character, but she still managed to be spunky and sexy the whole damn time. She was definitely the complete package.
There is just something about Erin Zak's writing that just gets me. Whether she is writing Ice Queens or Age Gap romances, I am captivated. Watch this space, and I am predicting great things.
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
September 9, 2019
I sometimes have trouble with Zak's books, mostly because they are so full of angst that I do have to be in the right mood for them. Sometimes the stories work for me and sometimes they don't. I want to say that this one fell down the middle, mostly due to the prolonged vacillation from Bernadette. Especially when it comes to hanging on to her first love, Connie, and moving to a much healthier relationship with Stevie. Sometimes this type of plot line works really, really well like in Breaking Character, by Lee Winter, where Elizabeth knows she has a crush on her mentor, but doesn't realize how toxic the relationship is until she's essentially slapped over the head with it. With Bernadette and Connie, there's this undercurrent of awareness that gets under my skin.
Bernadette's relationship with her mother is way more understandable. Her mom represents safety and steadfastness, and the need for someone like Bernadette to have that type of relationship is understandable. I felt like that need to stay with her mom - the safety - was a much better conflict than between Connie and her. I think that the focus on the themes surrounding that relationship would have made for a much better read.
I would say that this is a nice read with one huge, exacerbating plot line, and some smaller issues. Over all, though, if you want big dramatic feelings, Zak is the way to go.
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Bernadette's relationship with her mother is way more understandable. Her mom represents safety and steadfastness, and the need for someone like Bernadette to have that type of relationship is understandable. I felt like that need to stay with her mom - the safety - was a much better conflict than between Connie and her. I think that the focus on the themes surrounding that relationship would have made for a much better read.
I would say that this is a nice read with one huge, exacerbating plot line, and some smaller issues. Over all, though, if you want big dramatic feelings, Zak is the way to go.
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 20, 2019
4 stars |
July 5, 2020
Constance is a bit of an arsehole but this was really good. Stevie and Bernadette were great characters, and Harper's the cutest.
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