The Other Women

by Erin Zak

Cecily Yates should love her husband, but doesn’t. She should leave him, but hasn’t. Instead, she leads a safe life in Chicago and sees Willow Carmichael on the side. When Willow moves for a job opportunity in Las Vegas, their love affair comes to a screeching halt, leaving Cecily broken, guilty and confused.
Francesca Lopez has everything she needs: family, friends, a great job, and glittery non-stop Las Vegas excitement. If she’d known her perfect life was going to be flipped upside down when none other than Willow Carmichael tore her way into it, she would’ve guarded her heart a little better.
While on a business trip in Las Vegas, Cecily meets Francesca by chance at a bar and are inexplicably drawn to each other. What starts as friendship grows into more, beginning to heal Francesca’s heart and give Cecily the strength to be true to herself. But when they discover they have more in common than they think, the very person who bound them together may be the reason they’re ripped apart.

Genre: Romance

Genres: LGBT, Lesbian, Lesbian Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Femme Femme, Bisexual

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

Erin 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

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good book by Zak. I’m a big Zak fan which is something I would not have said just three years ago. I’ve had such a journey with Zak because I flat out did not like her debut book which I gave a 2 rating. Times sure have changed because now Zak is on my list of romance authors that I look forward to the most. She is now in her writing groove and just gets better and better with each book she writes. And even when I worry about one of her books being too triggering for me personally (The Road Home) it surprises me by being one of Zak’s best books. Now, I do have to admit that this particular book is not one of my favorites by her, but it still was very enjoyable read for me.

The best way to describe this is a dramatic romance with an infidelity triangle. I can only really remember, off the top of my head, one other book similar to this but I imagine there must be more in lesfic. The book I’m referring to is Rachel Spangler’s Does She Love You?, which has that infidelity triangle concept in it. Not only is Does She Love You? my favorite Spangler book, I think it is one of the best books that deals with infidelity in lesfic. So right off that bat Zak had a big hill to climb as it is just impossible not to compare these two books. Does this book really measure up to Does She Love You? No, not really, but that was a big ask from the beginning and on the good side I think this holds its own enough that ‘infidelity triangle” fans would like to read this.

I want to start with some things I really liked. The main characters, while not the best decision makers, were very likeable characters. I enjoyed both in their own ways and I really liked how they balanced each other out. There is a little age-gap going on which worked well with these two. I was also really happy with the chemistry. These two are pretty hot together and I loved watching the connection grow from flirting to something real. The characters are very tactile with each other and not just during sex. I’m a real touch feely person when I’m in love, at least I was before Covid, so I’m always surprised that book characters don’t touch much except for in sex scenes. So this was a really nice change and it made their relationship feel more realistic to me.

Okay, on to a few things that didn’t work as well. For one, I actually expected for there to be a bit more angst in this book. Yes, it has some, but Zak can write good angst so I was pumped-up and ready for more than what I actually got. And along a similar vein, while I saw how hurt the characters were, I didn’t feel it as much as I expected. Any of us who have been cheated on knows how it rips your heart out and does not make it easy to pick up the pieces. Since this was written in first person multiple POV, I expected to feel like my heart was breaking for the women. I did feel bad for them but it did not hit me like I expected. I felt like I was more told how broken they were than actually feeling the brokenness.

I do feel like I have to touch on the timeline of the romance itself. This is all happening on a trip to Vegas so that means almost an instalove romance. This is quick for sure and I’m not surprised that it bothered some readers already. I’m not a fan of instalove myself so this normally would disappoint me. Surprisingly, I was actually okay by the quickness of the romance in this instance. The reason for me being okay is because of how good their chemistry was. They had sparks together and I just believed in them as a couple. I believed if anyone could fall in love in a few days it would be these two women. What I actually found more unbelievable is that these women could start a healthy relationship after just getting over their hearts being smashed. Well let’s just say to answer that question you have to read the book.

While my review is getting a little long, I do have to give props to Zak for something that is important to me. I’m so sick of romances that have “the big conflict” happening at the 90-95% mark. Because when it happens so late, the characters have no time to realistically get back together which leads to an unbelievable HEA. Thank you Zak for not doing this! What a novel concept to actually let the characters have time to work out their issue to reach a plausible, and happy, HEA. I appreciated the ending of this book very much.

If you are looking for a dramatic romance that deals with cheating, this would be a good choice. It’s not Zak’s best, but it’s a good read and I think most Zak fans will be happy with it. I’m now always excited to get my hands on a Zak book and I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for her next.

An ARC was given to me for a honest review.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isn’t Willow Carmichael a beautiful name? It makes me think of fall and red leaves and the smell of the earth after the rain. Beautiful and romantic. I wish I could say the same about the woman bearing it. She’s obviously pretty and charming but not on the inside. I guess she has excuses for some of her behaviour but there are no excuses for the way she treats people.

Let me back up a little. Four months ago, Willow took a job in Vegas. For the past four years, in Chicago, she had been having an affair with Cecily Yates, a married woman. Cecily loves her husband Luke but hasn’t been in love with him in a long time, and multiple miscarriages sealed their marriage’s fate. Yeah, she should have left him, Willow agrees with that, even though she told Cecily she was okay with the situation. The truth is, she wasn’t. So she upped and left without discussing anything with Cecily, leaving her with a broken heart and a broken marriage. A promotion and a business trip bring Cecily to Vegas but the reunion with Willow doesn’t go as smoothly as either hoped. They fight, Cecily storms out of the room and, at the hotel bar, meets Francesca Lopez. Little does either woman know that the same fickle chick broke both their hearts.

I’m not a fan of cheating in romance but it happens and when it’s cleverly written, I can see how torn someone could be between two persons, between what her heart wants and what she thinks she should do. I can see how it can lead to wrong decisions, over and over. It makes for excellent angst and inextricable situations and so many feelings. I wouldn’t trust just any author to write about it but I have come to accept that Erin Zak can write about any sort of relationship, anything having to do with the human heart and psyche, and I will believe it.

The story she tells in The Other Women is that of two women who both believe they’re not enough, not worthy of love. There’s a rawness to Zak’s writing, something passionate just below the surface, that hovers right on the edge of pain. And by raw I do not mean harsh or blunt or basic. It’s poetic and romantic with just the right amount of lyricism, never over the top. Very alive, very real. I think I’ve written this before, but it’s like it speaks directly to my heart.

It will therefore come as no surprise that The Other Women kept me breathless almost from the first page. Cecily and Francesca touched my soul, and I held my breath, rooting for them, for this insane yet perfect match, knowing what had to happen, hoping no one would get irremediably hurt. It’s like the sword of Damocles, you know something terrible is coming, but you don’t know when or how. Beyond the love story and the betrayals and everything that ripped my heart and all that mended it slowly, Zak sprinkled her novel with really cool secondary characters. Luke, the husband, is awesome, as are best friends Max and Diamond as well as Francesca’s family and Cecily’s sister.

I am not the type to fangirl (except maybe when it comes to Star Wars) but I have so far read three books and two short stories by Erin Zak and for me, they are all 5* (to be fair, one short story was 4*). So maybe I'll start fangirling now.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Corporate Slave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an entertaining book that I really enjoyed!

Erin zak is one of those authors that I pick up her books without reading the blurb. She’s one of my “go to” authors because I know she rarely misses!! This book is no different!

While the main theme of the book is about cheating and some sort of a love triangle, because of the amazing supporting characters that the author always excels in, the cheating part wasn’t really the highlight. It was mainly about the struggles and heartbreaks.

I come back to the supporting characters because while the theme is quite heavy, the husband, brother and work partner gave a bit of fun in the overall storyline! This would’ve been a dark story had it not been for those characters who made a huge difference! More so than the MCs who I really liked, with one i felt was a bit selfish and the other was a sweetheart :)

The only thing that didn’t go well for me was how the story was told from both MCs POV, that kept rotating and confused me a bit.

Overall I recommend this book to anyone who wants an entertaining, fun and smooth read set up in lovely Vegas :)

My rating is a solid 4.

“I received an ARC for an honest review.”

[Leah]

As the title suggests, “The Other Women” is about cheating. However, the way Zak handles it, the cheating, while a main theme throughout the book, isn’t the main story although it seems like it would be.
Cecily is an executive in Chicago who is cheating on her husband with Willow after she realizes she’s no longer in love with him. She’s guilt ridden and refuses to leave him for Willow. After four years Willow finally accepts it and moves to Las Vegas for a new job. Once there, although she and Cecily never really ended their relationship, she starts dating a bartender, Francesca.
Willow then cruelly ends things after four months with Francesca when she thinks things may change with Cecily but in a turn, Cecily ends things with Willow when she finds out she’s been sleeping with someone else.
Cecily and Francesca meet at a hotel bar and sparks instantly start flying. Neither are aware that they are the other women in their recent relationship failures. They are both hurting with their relationships having imploded and aren’t looking for love. There is an instant connection between them that neither can deny and they spend three days together and start falling in love.
While I’m not usually a fan of the insta-love that seem to be more and more popular, I believed it completely this time. It wasn’t hard to believe the chemistry and how they bonded over the hurt from their other relationships. Cecily is feeling guilt over cheating on her husband and feeling unworthy after finding out Willow was cheating on her. Francesca is feeling self-doubt after the way Willow treated her in the end of their relationship. They are both vulnerable and are honest in their discussions. They open themselves up to each other more than they normally would. So yes, in this one instance, the insta-love works for me.
One of the things I really appreciated about the insta-love aspect of this story was that both Cecily and Francesca, acknowledged that they were developing their feelings much too quickly and how unusual it was for them. They even questioned the feelings and attributed them to the high tensions and circumstances they found themselves in. I can’t stand books that have the main characters fall in love after a few days and never acknowledge how unusual and often times unbelievable that is.
My only real complaint about “The Other Women” is the sometimes over the top emotions the characters have. The reactions and emotions regarding certain circumstances seemed dramatic and unbelievable at times. In my opinion they didn’t react in the ways that I thought women of their age should.
I never thought I’d be recommending a book about infidelity, love triangles, and insta-love, but here we are. It’s full of angst and drama and is very mess but it makes for a very fun read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally a fan of angst-ridden, full of lesbian drama books. If you add a love triangle and infidelity to that, it gets closer to my worst lesfic nightmare. This book has all of the above and somehow I really liked it.

Chicago businesswoman Cecily Yates has a husband, a successful career, and a four-year-long affair with a woman. Until that woman, Willow Carmichael, moves to Las Vegas in search of a better job opportunity and leaves Cecily heartbroken. Francesca Lopez is a bartender in a high-end hotel in Las Vegas who starts a love affair with Willow but is dumped soon after and also left heartbroken. When Cecily goes to Las Vegas on a business trip, she meets Francesca and starts a passionate affair, but will their connection resist the one woman that they have in common?

I envision that this book isn’t going to be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s common knowledge that infidelity and love triangles aren’t favourite themes for romance readers who tend to avoid them like the plague. Myself included. However, in my opinion, Ms. Zak was able to write a book with these elements and pull it off beautifully. Maybe it’s because the characters are relatable in their strengths but also in their shortcomings. Or perhaps is the strong chemistry between them. But somehow the story worked and captured my attention.

There is also the matter of insta-love between Cecily and Francesca, the intensity of their connection in just a few hours after their meeting. Even though I normally complain about insta-love stories, again, Ms. Zak makes it work in this context. In some way it makes absolute sense and, instead of being an artificial element in the plot, it plays an important part in describing the characters’ turmoil of emotions.

‘The Other Women’ is written in first person alternating the point of view of both main characters. The reader is submerged in their internal monologue, a bit like a stream of consciousness, where the psychic distance is very close and the reader witnesses their raw feelings, the intensity of their struggles, their guilt, their weaknesses, and ultimately, their humanity. I think that’s why this book worked for me, the psychic distance is so close that it’s impossible not to empathise with the characters, the identification with them leaves not enough separation to judge them. They are characters in deep turmoil and the readers are front-row witnesses.

I’m not sure if the crisis between them is absolutely justifiable or a bit contrived to make the plot advance. I wasn’t completely convinced but it’s hard to judge because the characters are in a weak position to make any type of adult decisions. But despite this, I’ve enjoyed the book a lot and I’m happy that I’ve read it even though it’s not normally my type of story. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Francesca and Cecily lead very different lives but are connected by one beguiling woman... Willow.

While on a business trip in Vegas, Cecily meets Francesca, a beautiful bartender, at the Casino she is staying in for the week. They both find comfort with each other and embark on a path toward healing.

I am constantly going on and on about how there are not enough love triangles in lesbian fiction. I literally can only think of one other. 'Does She Love You' by Rachel Spangler. That one was really good in a dramatic and morose way. This one stood out on its own in a more hopeful way. Neither were TRUE love triangles where you felt like it could go either way. Authors, please hear my plea for more of the love triangle trope!

Cecily and Francesca were cute together. I could feel their attraction and loved their flirtation.

The quick timeline of the story made it hard for me to believe the depth of their feelings. Things felt fast and more rebound than meant-to-be. Francesca's actions constantly conflicted with her inner monologues. And her wealth was described inconsistently as well. Had lots of money from her high paying bar tending gig. Enough to buy a car and house for family members but later questioning if she would ever be able to retire.

I need a good dose of angst in my books and this delivered on that front. However, I'm not a huge fan of time jumps like this story has. And once again, the timing made a resolution too rushed and unbelievable for me.

Overall, this was a decent sort-of love triangle. The heartbreak and damage the two main characters work through is where the book was at its best.

I recommend this to people who like to read about, romance, infidelity, Vegas, casinos, bars, clubs, gambling addiction, heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, and dirty martinis.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so many feelings after reading this book… actually, even before reading it. The blurb piqued my interest first, then the Acknowledgements, and by the time I finished the story I was completely won over.

Told in the first person from both the MCs’ points of view, the story centers around Francesca and Cecily – two women (read “the other women”) who have both had their hearts broken by Willow, a marketing executive who doesn’t know what she wants. From the very first chapter you know Willow is cold and heartless by the way she casts aside Francesca to try to win back her “ex,” Cecily. I was thrilled when the fateful meeting between Francesca and Cecily happened and couldn’t put the book down from that point on.

I think what I loved most about this storyline is that it’s unusual and not an over-used trope... and it WORKS. You’re rooting for the two MCs to get together and find the love and respect they deserve from a partner. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing, but the level of angst and time taken for both characters to find themselves and each other again is perfect.

This is the first book I’ve ready by Erin Zak, but it certainly won’t be the last!

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Zak is one of my favorite authors. I’ve never been disappointed in her novels, and this includes her current story, The Other Women.

This is a love triangle between three women: Cecily Yates, Willow Carmichael, and Francesca Lopez. Obviously with such a triangle, there is going to be a lot of heartbreak, guilt, and jealously in the story, especially since Cecily is also married, though she is starting the process of separating from and divorcing her husband.

Ms. Zak is an expert at writing books filled with angst. She had me in tears reading her last novel, and I came pretty close to that a couple of times with this one. Her characters are realistic and easy to connect with. The secondary characters in this tale are also well developed, and help to lighten the tale somewhat. The romance between Cecily and Francesca is both intense and sweet, even though you can see the possible disaster looming in their future.
Overall, this is a very emotional, angst filled romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you love to read passionate, angst filled romances, I believe you will also like this novel.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d seen a lot of reviews about this before I had the opportunity to actually read it, so whilst I was sceptical about the subject matter, I thought there was a good chance I’d enjoy it - but I actually loved it. This is my first Zak book and I just couldn’t put it down.

Cecily is a higher flyer, groomed to be a future CEO, married to her childhood sweetheart and having an affair. She’s unhappy with her life and is at heart essentially looking for herself amongst all the different aspects of her life.

Francesca is a Las Vegas casino bartender. Having fallen for someone who broke her heart in a cruel manner she’s now looking for a way to heal in all the wrong places.

Cecily and Francesca meet when Cecily goes to Vegas on a business trip. What follows is instant attraction, openness and a respectfulness that’s a bit hard to describe. I loved these two characters together. The push pull tension of the attraction but their hurt hearts - it made for a great storyline.

The angst is actually great on this occasion. Their realisation of a shared past was hard to read and only made me root for them more. How they deal with getting back together and moving on also felt like a really good narrative to me.

I liked that the storyline depicted both Cecily and Francesca as having very successful careers but that they weren’t happy in their personal lives. Too often society leads people to believe that happiness is money - so I liked that this was explored thoroughly through both lenses.

I enjoyed the alternating point of view between the two MCs, but I especially liked that it wasn’t necessarily alternating chapters, or even whole chapters before the POV changed. It mixed up a formula that’s often seen and I found this refreshing.

I also really enjoyed both MCs relationships with their families, be it Cecily’s with her husband and sister, or Francesca with her close friends and her family. With some aspects of pitfalls of Vegas life woven in it was a really well rounded story and I think I’ll actually be putting this on my read again pile.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Hsinju Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: infidelity, mention of miscarriage, gambling addiction, mention of drugs, mention of past car accident scene, mention of parental loss, uses of ableist language

This book is heavy on infidelity but light-hearted. The flirty interactions between these two other women are cute and them entering a friendship without expectations makes the story relatively low drama.

Francesca Lopez (31, Latina, bi+) is recently dumped by Willow Carmichael (lesbian), who declared she was in love with a married woman elsewhere. Cecily Yates (bisexual), who has been with Willow for four years, and her husband Luke are separating. When Willow dumped her, too, while Cecily is on a business trip, Cecily meets bartender Francesca. The pair decides to spend the rest of Cecily’s trip together for an unforgettable weekend, not knowing about the woman they once shared.

“You realize being the other woman isn’t a bad thing, right? [...] It means you’re essentially free.” — Francesca

For a book whose first half covered only about three days and the second half two, it feels oddly fast-paced and is engrossing. The main romance stems from instant attraction, but with Francesca and Cecily both surprised by it, their connection becomes a lot more believable for me. Pure physical attraction is often lost on page but since a great proportion of the book consists Francesca and Cecily talking and connecting, I understand that they need each other in a way that is not merely for a temporary release, but something more. I love how Zak incorporated subtle movements to signify great emotions between Francesca and Cecily, and I also love how they are both possibly still in rebound mode and confused about the whole situation. The one thing both women shared but not with each other was Willow. Though both believed themselves to be in love with Willow, it only took for them to meet each other to understand how wrong they were about their past lover.

Told in dual first-person point of view, there are a lot of internal dialogues on both sides as they doubt themselves and express their desires. It feels like playing a video game where the main characters have their thoughts displayed on the screen. It also feels like a recount as I keep learning about random but important facts about the characters like they just popped up as an afterthought. The story suffered a little from the narrative choice, since apart from Cecily not cursing, the two voices are mostly indistinguishable, yet I appreciate that all the thoughts have helped us understand more of what both characters are emotionally going through.

“It was sort of nice, for half a minute, acting like you were mine.” — Cecily

While Zak did an amazing job at tackling infidelity, my main issue with the story is that Willow makes absolutely no sense. There is no logical reason for her inconsistent actions, and though she is an important character, I find her motives and desires conflicting, confusing, and ambiguous. Though the overall storyline was really well-done and I whole-heartedly root for Francesca and Cecily, the story didn’t strike an emotional chord in me.

There are many wonderful secondary characters. I love how Cecily’s husband Luke was never antagonized and is mostly a very nice man. But the best side characters are probably the ridiculously handsome Max (gay), Francesca’s fellow bartender, and Armando, Francesca’s brother. Both are such a joy and radiate so much love.

You could say that The Other Women is a story of infidelity; you could also say it is of love. I think in addition to it being romance, the story is about self love, too, that being dumped like a dirty rag never means you are unlovable, but that you deserve so much more.

I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[MJSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew going in that this would be a tough sell since infidelity is one of my least favourite storylines, and Holy Infidelity Batman, there’s a LOT of infidelity in this book. Zak’s one of my must read authors though, so I thought I’d give it a go.

So, here we have Cecily, who is married to a guy she loves but isn’t in love with (Luke), so she’s been having an affair with Willow, who has been waiting for three years or so for Cecily to leave Luke. Assuming this isn’t going to happen, she then begins an affair with Francesca, a bartender living in Vegas. Cecily and Willow kinda sorta maybe broke up about four months prior and Willow was then with Francesca, but still keeping Cecily on the hook. Willow then breaks up with Francesca, who knows nothing about Cecily (and is a real bitch about how she does this) leaving Francesca devastated.

Through a series of events Cecily then ends up in Vegas, gets her heart stomped on by Willow (though in reality had everything that happened coming to her for mine) and then meets Francesca, not knowing that she’s ‘the other woman’. They then embark on an affair and it all gets very messy.

My main issue with this book was that neither Willow or Cecily are very nice people. I couldn’t work out why so many people were drawn to Willow (by the end she’s such an over the top caricature that I couldn’t see how either woman ever fell for her) and Cecily is very much the ‘have my cake and eat it too, but no-one else should touch it’ type. Her hypocrisy was staggering. Francesca is more sympathetic, but still knew (without knowing the other woman’s name) that Cecily was separating from her husband but had cheated on him and was still sort of involved with the other woman. Not sure exactly how that’s supposed to be an attractive quality.

The majority of their relationship also takes place over a period of around three days, so I struggled to believe they weren’t just rebounding on each other, and the ‘I love yous’ were way too superficial for me. Cecily was also an absolute bitch when she worked out what had happened, so no way did I think she deserved a second chance.

I did like that Cecily’s husband wasn’t made out to be a bad guy, but I struggled to connect with any of the characters here. By the time we got to the end I sort of believed the two MCs deserved each other, but not for any fluffy HEA reasons.

If you haven’t read Zak before, suggest you start with Breaking Down Her Walls or Beautiful Accidents instead.

[Colleen Corgel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an up and down relationship with Zak's books. She brings the messy emotions and complicated people, but sometimes I don't always jive with it. It's mostly because her leads are often hard to empathize with, but Frankie and Cecily are very relatable. They are messes who both got their hearts broken at about the same time, and when they see each other its like the clouds parted.

I normally don't go for the insta love, but I am all for a well thought out love at first sight plot. This works, and I think its because of how they react to seeing each other for the first time, and how they are both earnestly baffled by how they are reacting to the other. Frankie and Cecily meet at the bar of a Las Vegas Casino where Frankie is the bartender. Sparks immediately fly as Frankie tries her worst pickup line on Cecily. And that's when I knew I'd like these two people. Even as Frankie fell on her face with that line, they both were intrigued by the other, and their chemistry was almost instantaneous.

One word of warning, though: Cecily is cheating on her husband with Willow, and kind of sort of started to date (maybe?) Frankie while she is still emotionally attached to Willow. Cecily is wracked with guilt over not leaving her husband - who seems just genuinely nice, which is rare in these types of stories - but is also very much in love with Willow. Or so she thinks. There's a lot of grey area in the relationship by the time Frankie one lines her way into Cecily's life. Even so, if you are not a fan of cheaters or cheaters not really learning lessons, this might not be for you. Again, this is a plot line that is overdone, but it kind of is in the background, as Frankie and Cecily are working through a ton of self-esteem and self- worth issues after being essentially manipulated by the same woman. Them finding a sense of worth, empathy, and affirmation with each other is front and center.

Zak is a master at creating messy characters with messy feelings. This is the first time I felt like I really could empathize with both leads, and thought that they were genuinely good people who just got destroyed by a manipulator. Even Cecily, who knows what she is doing is wrong, but still doesn't want to hurt her husband, whom she does love, because she knows he doesn't deserve the pain. The emotions that Frankie and Cecily experience are immediately recognizable, and just makes all the big, messy feelings that much more real to me.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cecily Yates works in a corporate casino marketing job in Chicago and is married to her husband, Luke. She likes Luke and he is her best friend, but she is not in love with Luke. Cecily has been having an affair for four years with Willow Carmichael whom she met at work. One day seemingly out of the blue Willow announces that she is leaving the next day for Las Vegas. Cecily initially thinks that Willow means she is leaving on a business trip. No, Willow is permanently moving to Las Vegas. Needless to say, Cecily is heartbroken.

Francesca Lopez is a high flying Las Vegas bartender from a solid family who lives in the area. Francesca has been seeing Willow for about three months when Willow announces that she is still in love with a woman in Chicago. Francesca is devastated. She tries a pick up herself up when Cecily sits down at her bar one day for a drink. Cecily is in Las Vegas on a business trip and wants to unwind with a drink. Neither woman know what they have in common. They simply know when they meet that they experience a deep attraction and sizzling chemistry.

I will admit that when I initially started reading this book I found it difficult to relate and connect to any of the three women. My initial Impression was that all three of them appeared to be highly selfish. But I pressed on and kept reading and am glad that I did. The characters, at least two of them, became more engaging and relatable when I learned more about their backstory and the challenges they faced in life.

This story is about heartbreak, betrayal, and the ability to overcome raw pain in order to learn to live again. A well written, emotional book by Erin Zak. 4 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

Majority of people don't like to read, hear or they avoided the word infidelity... so firstly 'hats off' to Erin Zak for writing about the subject. And in my opinion, she wrote about it really well. I cant think of another book where an author as approached the subject.
I think I've only read one other book by Zaks and I know that I have a few on my 'to read' list, after reading 'The other women' I will be giving them a try sooner rather then later.

The story is about a Cecily Yates, who's married and not in love with her husband. Instead of leaving him, she's seeing Willow Carmichael on the side. When willow decides to take a job in Chicago the affair comes to a end, where Cecily is left heart broken.
Francesca Lopez thinks she as everything she will every need, family and friends who support her, a fantastic job in Las Vegas. Until her exciting life is is flipped upside down when willow Carmichael tore her way into it. Cecily meets Francesca while she is on a business trip to Las Vegas, they are both drawn to one another as soon as they lock eyes on each other. A friendship starts to grow between the pair. Until they realized they have more in common then they first though, the very person who bound them together.

When I first started the book. I instantly thought I would automatically hate Cecily Yates for carrying on an affair.... but I didn't. I found myself beginning to feel sorry for her and hoping she would get her HEA. I think most of us have been at some point in are lives confused when it comes to relationships and our feelings.... I still don't condone cheating.... but my whole opinion changed about her.
You can feel the pull between Cecily and Francesca as soon as they meet , a slow romance that leads to passion. The characters work well , the story-line works and I was very surprised there wasn't more angst. I'm really glad I decided to give this story a chance.

I was provided a ARC copy for an honest review.

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is one of those times where a good book just missed the mark with a certain reader, me. It is by no means a bad book, you wont' see me review those. I am not here to annihilate someone's work. I know that a writer pours their heart and soul into their art, some books resonate, some don't. Sure there are issues sometimes, but no one needs me to dissect their book. I am by no means qualified. If I review it and post it, its a good book worthy of your time. You can decide if you love it, like it or go WTF Tiff.

The background of The Other Women is that Cecily Yates loves her husband, but loves him as a friend, not as a partner or a lover. She loves her mistress, Willow Carmichael. Willow has moved to Las Vegas and when the book begins Cecily has a work meeting that she must travel out to Sin City. This is her chance to meet up with the woman she has been pining for. Willow and Cecily don't rekindle their love, something is missing. Confused and frustrated Cecily, by chance befriends Willow's former lover (no one knows that yet though), bartender, Francesca Lopez.

There is a lot going on here and it moves fast. No one is really over the other person. It's messy as life is sometimes. Francesca and Cecily have chemistry, there is no doubt about it. When they first meet and have long soulful talks, to me that is the best part of the book. Where it derails, is the immaturity of the characters. Francesca is cool, but Cecily and Willow are not. They both were less than impressive. That is where the problem lies, as a reader I did not like a main character. You are supposed to not like Willow, but to have a main that is less that redeemable that is an issue. It's not that she is a cheater, you know that going in, its that she is pretty much an immature jerk.

Like I said earlier, I think this one is going to come down to this not being the book for me. It could totally be the one for you. Erin Zak writes good books, so if you are intrigued give it a chance.

[Aleana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecily been having an affair for last four years with a women name Willow. Cecily is in turmoil for cheating on her husband Luke who also her best friend she just no longer in love with him and afraid to let him go. Cecily is devastated when Willow gets a job offer and ups a goes without a goodbye even though Willow was ok with situation but it’s seems she wasn’t.

Cecily is heart broken goes to the hotel bar and meets Francesca who is the bartender she just got her heart broken when the woman she loves tells her she loves someone else as she flirts with Cecily they are both unaware that they have someone in common.

Cecily has very religious family and married Luke when she was young that she never realize her attraction towards women until she met Willow at work. I like Francesca she was like a breath fresh air as chemistry with Cecily was on point and how she help Cecily be comfortable in her own skin.

Normally I don’t like premise with cheating is involve but Cecily didn’t do it to be malicious yes she should have end her marriage before starting a affair but I get it she was scare to leave her comfort and what she thinks is right then being true to yourself.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

[Grfb · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

My review would be more like a 3,5 stars instead of 4 if I'm brutally honest.
It took me more than 3 days in order to finish the first chapter and to be honest I thought several times about not even finishing this book. I normally don't like books that need to start the chapters with "Cecily" and then write from her point of view, then another chapter "Francesca" and then her point of view. Maybe I'm the strange one but this way of telling the story doesn't really work for me, it doesn't really flow naturally.
In the initial chapters the dialogue between Willow ( the other woman) and Francesca felt a little be unrealistic and overly dramatic and it was like watching a soap opera when the characters speak a certain wooden language.
I started getting into the story after Francesca and Cecily met and I admit that I enjoyed their chemistry and that was what kept me reading till the end. This is actually what made me somehow finish this book.
I like Erin Zak and I consider her one of the good new w/w authors but I don't think this one was one of her best works. I will look forward to her new book and I hope it's more like her previous one.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, Cecily Yates is in love with a woman who she cheating on her husband with. She got married young and was from a religious family and did not know about bisexuality until she met Willow Carmichael. Although, she does not want to leave her husband for Willow, she still is committed to him. When Willow moves to Las Vegas from Chicago, Cecily is heartbroken, even though Willow and Cecily still talk and everything, it is not the same. Willow also admits on Cecily's trip to Vegas that she is cheating on Cecily with another woman. Francesca Lopez is a bartender at a popular casino in Las Vegas, and has a lot going for her, except love. When Willow breaks up with her after telling her she is the other woman and Willow is in love with a woman who isn't going to leave her husband,. Francesca is heartbroken. When Cecily sits at Francesca's bar and order a drink, Francesca can't help but flirt with her. They both have no idea who the other one is, and how they are both heartbroken by the same woman.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. I loved how their dynamic evolved through the book. I liked how they had heart break that linked them together and they both were attracted to each other no matter how they felt about their exes. Cecily and Francesca both are cautious in the beginning until they start to know more about the other. I enjoyed how it really evolved over the few days Cecily was there. They both seemed to start to have a connection they cannot understand. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The connection between Cecily Yates and Francesca Lopez is strong and very sexy. While reading I thought about how the reveal would unfold. Although I am not a big fan of infidelity, after reading some of the reviews, I decided to go for it. In general, I am glad I did. I really liked Francesca's character and tried to understand Cecily's character. The secondary characters were a positive addition to the story. They provided opinion and support which is needed as the two mains process what is and has happened to them emotionally. The "bad guy" was so very good at being smooth which made her a very good bad guy.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley.

[cherry ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5, rounded up! when the actual lesbian drama began, i just devoured it. (literally give me all the angst, thx. it's why i watch the l word.) honestly, the ending felt almost like every lesfic ending i've read so far, but the premise to getting there was pretty unique. i enjoyed it! glad i finished it, finally!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a little bit to get into, but once I did. I couldn't stop reading. This was heartbreakingly wonderful and so very real. Absolutely loved this

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Zak has quickly become one of my favorite writers! I was hooked as soon as I read the book's synopsis and couldn't wait to get started!

Cecily and Francesca were each at a crossroads in their lives when they unexpectedly met. Neither had any idea how intertwined their lives already were prior to their first meeting. The spark between them was instantaneous and what progresses over the course of the next 72 or so hours is a truly wonderful and heart-wrenching story told through well-written dialogue, flashbacks, and present details. The development of Franchesca and Cecily's relationship was just so fascinating to read.

If you're not a fan of cheating playing a major role in a novel, then I'd recommend finding another book. However, if you're okay with it, you will absolutely love the dynamics in this book. Our mains are both normal women who possess strengths as well as flaws. There are sweet supporting characters that add a lot to the novel's plot. Overall I think this book is excellent and highly recommend!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens in Vegas... will change your life forever.

Cecily is having an affair with Willow, she knows she should divorce her husband, but she doesn't. When Willow packs up her things to take a job in Vegas Cecily is left behind in Chicago feeling confused and heartbroken. When a promotion at work brings her to Chicago she is ready to see Willow again, tell her she is separated from her husband, and see where things are going between them. Little did Cecily know Willow was keeping up her long-distance romance with her while bedding Francesca. And breaking Francesca's heart. When Cecily storms out on Willow she ends up at the bar where Frankie is working. There is an instant pull and comfort between them. They are both nursing a broken heart, but that isn't the only thing that connects them. It starts off as a wonderful friendship but turns into something more the more time they spend together. When their fragile hearts discover they have even more in common than they thought it might just break their hearts into a million pieces once again.

After reading Erin Zak's The Road Home I was really excited to read a new book by her. I enjoyed reading The Other Women, Zak's writing style is really what keeps me invested in the story. As for this story itself, it's not entirely for me. I just don't do well with affairs and Cecily seems to be really attached still to her sham of a marriage. Both Frankie and Cecily struggle with letting go of Willow, at a point it started to really annoy me that they were together but think/ comparing to Willow. She must have been some sort of magical being, but when she is actually part of the story, not a mere thought, she seems like a horrible person and a player. I do understand both Cecily's and Frankie's struggles to find their own happiness, and that's what grabbed my attention mostly. Their struggles to become the person they want to be, to be happy. So even with a big no-go like an affair this book still works for me. Although I do prefer Zak's The Road Home over this one it was still an enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Les Rêveur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delicious, sexy curveball on life and love!

Erin Zak has ruined me this year between her last book ‘The Road Home’ and now ‘The Other Woman’. I feel like she has upped the ante on her writing and lifted the veil on writing emotions because that was just beautiful. I could feel the heartache of both Cecily and Francesca. These women have been through so much, and when they feel they both feel deeply.

Francesca, without a doubt, was my favourite character. She has been hurt, and she was left tormented by cruel words Willow left her with before breaking her heart. But even though the hurt she felt was real, she used that to fuel her love of Cecily. It was so very brave.

Cecily! Gosh, I wanted to hug her so much. This woman made mistakes. Big mistakes, but she gathered herself up and made the best of things and ultimately found the love of her life even if she thought it was someone else for a while.

You all know how I feel about epilogues, and this one is a slam dunk. It was the perfect amount of time into the future; it gave me all the feels while summing up the protagonist’s journey to happily ever after.

This book is like a love letter to anyone with a broken heart. Erin Zak is telling you that you will get through it, and if some break your heart, they were never worthy in the first place.

The chemistry is off the charts in this book. Cecily and Francesca are beyond compatible in every sense of the word, be it in a relationship and when they hit the sheets. And the sex was oh so very yummy!!!

I adored this book. Get yourself ready for a rollercoaster of emotions and don’t forget the wine and tissues. This book is 100% worth your time!

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good
Cecily has been having an affair with Willow for a few years. She has made it clear she won’t leave him. She loves him even if she is not in love with him. When Willow decides she has had enough she up and leaves, moving across the country with next to no notice. Cecily is lost, confused and hurting…but the door hasn’t closed completely. Francesca lives and works in Las Vegas. When she meets Willow, she believes her when she says she is special. Therefore it is a major shock when Willow rips her heart out, telling her there is someone else….When Cecily goes to Las Vegas on business, she meets the lovely Francesca and the two are taken with each other but when they find out what they have in common, everything comes crashing down around them….

This beautifully written and highly emotional story captured my attention from the start and I found myself unwilling to stop reading. I loved the connection between Cecily and Francesca and really enjoyed watching them get to know each other and more… I was able to establish an emotional connection to these characters and really cared what happened to them. I did find myself a bit frustrated with Cecily, but if she moved as quickly as I would have wanted her too and didn’t dither so much, then the story would not have been what it is… I really liked all the settings in this story as well. I would love to visit there to experience them for myself and if you know me, you KNOW I HATE crowds but these places are so compelling! The ending was practically perfect and the whole book left me happy and smiling.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Zak is a talented writer. She gives us complex topics that are REAL with depth then wraps a love story in the midst of all the angst. She has given us Road to Home and The Other Women this year and they but most have taken a great deal out of her to put down on paper.

I guess you all can see where I am going with this review. I thoroughly enjoyed The Other Women. After reading the synopsis of the story I wasn't sure how this story was going to play out. It did however leave me wondering how Zak could work her magic with such a complicated story line. Trust me she does plus some. She take 3 characters and tangles them up into this web. Two of them (Cecily and Willow) have this longer history while Francesca comes into their lives for a much shorter time. As Zak writes this book, you get an idea about who is right for one another and who is not right. She takes her time to give us the facts and is able to mix in attraction, chemistry and sexiness. I especially liked that Cecily is the woman with a perfect body. Overall, all of the characters have their own uniqueness and diversity which adds to the awesomeness of this story.

I just really enjoyed The Other Women. Home run for me.

5 stars

This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecily Yates is in a loveless marriage. She won't leave her husband, even though she doesn't love him. She's been seeing Willow Carmichael on the down-low, until Willow leaves Chicago for a job in Las Vegas.

Francesca Lopez, successful in her job and life, working at The Heights casino, meets Willow who is her superior and who takes her heart and eventually tears it to pieces.

Cecily and Francesca meet by chance. What are the odds? What will be the result?

The prologue will pull you in, right from sentence #1. Erin Zak writes emotions like few authors can and she brings those emotions to the reader on the page, jumping off the page into your soul. If someone has ever broken up with you, and you didn't know why, Zak writes how it felt.

Willow Carmichael goes through the lives of women like a hot knife through butter, but not quite as gently. She blames everyone for her inability to commit, and leaves the women believing they are to blame. She leaves them broken and unable to trust their own emotions.

This might well be the finest piece of writing I've ever read on how women feel after being devastated by love and loss.

But, not all is gloom and doom. Finding that one who was put in your path to heal your broken parts, your broken heart, is as unlikely as either Francesca or Cecily ever thought it would be, but can they trust themselves not to break each other into smaller pieces? Can they open themselves up so soon after their twin heartbreaks? Will they realize that they each dearly want to make the sacrifice it takes to love someone who doesn't always feel worthy of that love and sacrifice?

Erin Zak gets better with every book, with every word she writes, and she makes me want to read each and every word. This one is a must-read. This book is her best work yet.

[Ban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m mad. Why? Because 5 stars is the limit and it’s not enough. I’ve lost sleep over this book. I regret putting it down last night because all of this “life” stuff made me miss Francesca and Cecily for so many hours. And now I’ve lost all the sleep because... no way was I gonna stop reading. There is something about this story (and much like Cecily I suck at explanations) that just has you hooked right away. Francesca? I fell in love with her right away. Willow? Eeeehhhh. I guess she had her issues and I feel sorry for her, but that’s all there is. Cecily? Aaaahhh. Love her. Their time spent together? Taking everything slow and every little thing they did felt so special. I was trying to come up with scenarios of how they would eventually figure out the Willow part. Didn’t think of THAT way, but - my heart broke and it was not nice. No. Brenda? I like her. She deserves a hug for helping. And honestly so do Max and Armando because why not. The epilogue? My heart can’t take this. Addy? Good god. I adore them. How can you not love this book. It was brilliant. Every single page made me fall for them even more. Words. Stay guarded, stay sane? Yup fine, I’ll go hug Francesca and Cecily now.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecily Yates has been having an affair for four years with Willow Carmichael. She also has a wonderful husband who she is not in love with.  When Willow suddenly leaves, Cecily is devastated and confused but still believes they are in a relationship. Francesca Lopez, works in a bar in Las Vegas, she's also in a four month old relationship with Willow Carmichael.  When Willow tells her their relationship is over as she's in love with another woman, Francesca is crushed.  Cecily has to travel to Las Vegas, she's excited to see Willow and tell her she's done with her marriage but their things between them don't quite go to plan and Cecily ends up at the bar that Francesca is working and the sparks fly.
Erin Zak's books just keep getting better. Cheating can be a divisive subject but the skill with which Zak writes and allow you to sympathise with the characters makes cheating seem OK. I love how the web between Cecily, Francesca and Willow is cleverly woven, it makes for a great read and the chemistry between Cecily and Francesca is just off the charts. I couldn't put this book down and I'll be definitely re-reading it.  Loved it!

[nutmeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stare at my reflection in my bathroom mirror. “Francesca Lopez. You are a sexy beast. And you deserve to be taken seriously. Do you hear me?”

What happens when you fall for the person who is the cause of your broken heart? This is a poignant tale of a pair of broken hearts finding love from the most unlikely of sources. Cecily and Francesca have both been scarred by love, and in a wicked twist of fate, found that they were connected by the same person who broke both their hearts.

Damaged. Broken. Some big words were used on the characters in this book. So big that as you move with the storyline, they cramp out the space in your heart and you can literally feel the self deprecation, doubt and pain of the characters. Throughout the book one is kept on their toes on when the dream will be shattered when they found out who is the other woman.

The answer to if you should pick up the book would be a resounding yes. The writing was exemplary, the emotions so vividly written I can still feel the clenches even after I put down the book.

I just reviewed The Other Women by Erin Zak. #NetGalley