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Never Say Never
An age-gap, opposites-attract lesbian romance between a nanny and her career-climbing boss that ends in a puddle of melted ice queen.
Ambitious corporate shark Camila Evans might have just lost her marriage but she decides she doesn’t need love to build a television empire and raise her young son alone. What she does need is a nanny, but the incompetent idiots sent her way make her lose faith in ever finding anyone useful.
Enter Emily Walker—fresh out of college, bright, a little naive, and new to New York City. Emily is everything Camila is not and frankly it’s a little unsettling how innocent and gentle the young woman is.
That’s not all that’s unsettling. Camila’s growing feelings for Emily are making it hard to maintain a professional distance. Surely she can’t possibly be falling for the nanny? God, it’s such a mid-life crisis cliché. But would it be too impossible?
As time goes on, Camila starts to wonder if maybe even she can get her happy ending after all.
75,000 words
Tags: age gap romance, ice queen romance, New York, opposites-attract romance, single mom
Ambitious corporate shark Camila Evans might have just lost her marriage but she decides she doesn’t need love to build a television empire and raise her young son alone. What she does need is a nanny, but the incompetent idiots sent her way make her lose faith in ever finding anyone useful.
Enter Emily Walker—fresh out of college, bright, a little naive, and new to New York City. Emily is everything Camila is not and frankly it’s a little unsettling how innocent and gentle the young woman is.
That’s not all that’s unsettling. Camila’s growing feelings for Emily are making it hard to maintain a professional distance. Surely she can’t possibly be falling for the nanny? God, it’s such a mid-life crisis cliché. But would it be too impossible?
As time goes on, Camila starts to wonder if maybe even she can get her happy ending after all.
75,000 words
Tags: age gap romance, ice queen romance, New York, opposites-attract romance, single mom
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2021
44 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Sommers
7 books228 followersRachael Sommers was born and raised in the North-West of England, where she began writing at the age of thirteen, and has been unable to stop since. A biology graduate, she currently works in education and constantly dreams of travelling the world. In her spare time, she enjoys horse riding, board games, escape rooms and, of, course, reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
March 26, 2021
3.25 Stars. Lots of great potential but the book didn’t come together for me as much as I would have liked. I think the book started well (besides a few bumps) and continued doing well, until the book hit a wall about two thirds in and just petered out from there. I think overall that this was a solid debut for Sommers and while I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped, I would definitely read her again.
I’m a big ice queen fan so I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, that right there was a bit of a bump for me. I didn’t really see the Camila as an ice queen. I felt like she was more of an ice princess. I don’t think a woman being successful and having power automatically makes an ice queen. There is so much more to that character essence and I didn’t find those other qualities in her.
This did have the feeling of fanfic to me but I mean that in a good way. I started reading this and I immediately got SuperCat or DWP vibes and when that happens, chances are I’m going to enjoy the book. I have good memories of reading ex-fanfics, especially from YLVA, so I thought the book started out pretty well, until the feeling of it changed. I don’t think anyone really mentioned this but I found this book to be super angsty. I love some over-the-top soap opera like angst, but this wasn’t that, it was heavy push-pull angst. The problem was it became so heavy, and repetitive, that it almost started feeling a bit depressing that the characters were not getting together. This is when the book lost its fun vibe for me and started to go downhill. The amount of time the characters are together (as a couple) in the story was so incredibly low. I think it may be the smallest amount of time ever spent together in a romance book that I can remember. I’ll put the actual % behind a spoiler so you can see it if you are interested. Sommers did try to make up for this by having an Epilogue, but it just didn’t work. So much had happened off camera that I had trouble believing in that particular HEA. This book really needed at least three more chapters to develop the characters as an actual couple.
I had some ups and downs with the secondary characters. On the good side, I loved Emily’s sister and her girlfriend. One was a detective with the other in forensics so they both had cool jobs. I liked their personalities and how they met on the job. I started to wish that the story was actually about them instead. If Sommers would write a prequel of sorts and write their love story, I would read it in a heartbeat.
When it came to the characters I had issues with, besides Camila not being icy enough, I also has major issues with her son. Her son is a major part of the book since Emily is the nanny. While the kid was a nice and cute 5 year-old kid, he wasn’t always written like that. I felt like Sommers had trouble keeping him in the right age range. Sometimes I felt like he was 3 years old on the verge or a tantrum, other times I felt like he was 30 years old, training to be the next Dr. Phil so he could give his mother relationship advise. He was put into the role that a best friend character normally handles and it just did not work. While I can overlook a lot for cuteness, this was too much to overlook.
In the end this book had some pretty big bumps, but a lot of the meat of the story was there. I think Sommers potential is obvious and with just a little more experience I think she will be able to excise the newbie bumps. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a spin-off, I think she has some great secondary characters that are ready to have their own love story, but either way I will read Sommers again.
A copy was given to me for a review.
I’m a big ice queen fan so I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, that right there was a bit of a bump for me. I didn’t really see the Camila as an ice queen. I felt like she was more of an ice princess. I don’t think a woman being successful and having power automatically makes an ice queen. There is so much more to that character essence and I didn’t find those other qualities in her.
This did have the feeling of fanfic to me but I mean that in a good way. I started reading this and I immediately got SuperCat or DWP vibes and when that happens, chances are I’m going to enjoy the book. I have good memories of reading ex-fanfics, especially from YLVA, so I thought the book started out pretty well, until the feeling of it changed. I don’t think anyone really mentioned this but I found this book to be super angsty. I love some over-the-top soap opera like angst, but this wasn’t that, it was heavy push-pull angst. The problem was it became so heavy, and repetitive, that it almost started feeling a bit depressing that the characters were not getting together. This is when the book lost its fun vibe for me and started to go downhill. The amount of time the characters are together (as a couple) in the story was so incredibly low. I think it may be the smallest amount of time ever spent together in a romance book that I can remember. I’ll put the actual % behind a spoiler so you can see it if you are interested. Sommers did try to make up for this by having an Epilogue, but it just didn’t work. So much had happened off camera that I had trouble believing in that particular HEA. This book really needed at least three more chapters to develop the characters as an actual couple.
I had some ups and downs with the secondary characters. On the good side, I loved Emily’s sister and her girlfriend. One was a detective with the other in forensics so they both had cool jobs. I liked their personalities and how they met on the job. I started to wish that the story was actually about them instead. If Sommers would write a prequel of sorts and write their love story, I would read it in a heartbeat.
When it came to the characters I had issues with, besides Camila not being icy enough, I also has major issues with her son. Her son is a major part of the book since Emily is the nanny. While the kid was a nice and cute 5 year-old kid, he wasn’t always written like that. I felt like Sommers had trouble keeping him in the right age range. Sometimes I felt like he was 3 years old on the verge or a tantrum, other times I felt like he was 30 years old, training to be the next Dr. Phil so he could give his mother relationship advise. He was put into the role that a best friend character normally handles and it just did not work. While I can overlook a lot for cuteness, this was too much to overlook.
In the end this book had some pretty big bumps, but a lot of the meat of the story was there. I think Sommers potential is obvious and with just a little more experience I think she will be able to excise the newbie bumps. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a spin-off, I think she has some great secondary characters that are ready to have their own love story, but either way I will read Sommers again.
A copy was given to me for a review.
March 10, 2021
My kind of book: Age-gap, ice queen and a powerful woman
I had been excited about this book for months because it has my favourite themes - age-gap, ice queen and a powerful woman - and this book started out promising. I love how the older Camila notices Emily's crush right away and is flattered by it. I love how Camila's five year old, Jamie takes to Emily almost instantly. A bit of a cliché to fall for the young nanny but they do have a really good rapport going and I love how obvious the chemistry between Camila and Emily is to everyone, even themselves.
It's a bit of a shame that we don't get to see much of Camila's formidable side in the office nor the side that made her an admiration to young girls because I need something strong to get over that befuddled middle age lady who persistently struggles with her feelings due to her own stubbornness. Sommers lets that go on for far too long that I started to wonder if it's because she didn't know how to end it. Which could be true considering how quickly the ending came and went.
Despite its faults, I'm still giving this book a good rating because the premise of it is my kind of book really and I enjoyed it for most parts. Plus, I love the side characters, particularly Cassie who really stepped up her game as Emily's (foster) sister.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I had been excited about this book for months because it has my favourite themes - age-gap, ice queen and a powerful woman - and this book started out promising. I love how the older Camila notices Emily's crush right away and is flattered by it. I love how Camila's five year old, Jamie takes to Emily almost instantly. A bit of a cliché to fall for the young nanny but they do have a really good rapport going and I love how obvious the chemistry between Camila and Emily is to everyone, even themselves.
It's a bit of a shame that we don't get to see much of Camila's formidable side in the office nor the side that made her an admiration to young girls because I need something strong to get over that befuddled middle age lady who persistently struggles with her feelings due to her own stubbornness. Sommers lets that go on for far too long that I started to wonder if it's because she didn't know how to end it. Which could be true considering how quickly the ending came and went.
Despite its faults, I'm still giving this book a good rating because the premise of it is my kind of book really and I enjoyed it for most parts. Plus, I love the side characters, particularly Cassie who really stepped up her game as Emily's (foster) sister.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2021
3.5⭐️ – Never Say Never is Rachael Sommers’s debut novel and it’s a pretty good start, especially if you enjoy age gap celebrity ice queen romances.
Between college and university, Emily Walker needs to earn money and has applied to be a full-time nanny. She’s new to New York, where she doesn’t know anyone except for her foster sister Cassie and Cassie’s girlfriend Maia. To her surprise, she gets an interview with Camila Evans, television tycoon, single mother to a five-year old, out bisexual and Emily’s teenage crush. When they meet, Camila is everything Emily expected: gorgeous and terrifying.
The plot is a rather traditional one, which reminded me of Popcorn Love by K. L. Hughes or Coming Home by KJ (still one of my favourite books), among others. What it lacks in originality, this novel – which started as SuperCat fanfiction – makes up with good writing and endearing characters. Emily is plausibly wonderful, she’s sweet, smart, kind, driven. She’s not perfect and I really liked the way Sommers wrote her simmering anger when things went wrong – as they were bound to go. Camila is an ice queen with unending love for both her son and her job. She sucks at communicating on a personal level and at opening up. She’s a respected professional woman who is convinced she blackens everything she touches when it comes to relationships. Camila believes Emily deserves better than her, that she would inevitably hurt her.
I felt some scenes could have been a little more developed and I wish the author had given more space to Emily’s foster mother. I really liked the foster storyline and what it means to Emily and who she is. Also, given her line of work, I have a very hard time believing Camila doesn’t read the news first thing in the morning or that she doesn’t have an alert (or an assistant with an alert) on her own name.
The best part in stories like these isn’t so much the falling in love itself, it’s the struggle the characters face to not give in. The work relationship, the age gap, the fear of failure which is even stronger when a child is involved, everything combines to make them think their love can’t be. There’s angst, heartbreak, longing, stolen touches and a lot of unfulfilled lust. Sommers did a good job at this, even if it felt a tad repetitive at times, in particular in the lies Camila told herself and Emily in her effort to keep the younger woman away.
What I liked best, however, was Emily’s relationship with Cassie and Maia. The sisters have a hilarious love/tease relationship with Maia acting as the adult – most of the time. The scenes with the three of them were fun and lighthearted when possible, poignant when Emily was heartbroken. My favourite scene in the whole book is probably the one at the gym. I’m not spoiling, go read the book.
All in all, a nice read and hopefully, just the beginning of Rachael Sommers’s career as a published author.
ARC provided to LeZReviewBooks for an honest review.
Between college and university, Emily Walker needs to earn money and has applied to be a full-time nanny. She’s new to New York, where she doesn’t know anyone except for her foster sister Cassie and Cassie’s girlfriend Maia. To her surprise, she gets an interview with Camila Evans, television tycoon, single mother to a five-year old, out bisexual and Emily’s teenage crush. When they meet, Camila is everything Emily expected: gorgeous and terrifying.
The plot is a rather traditional one, which reminded me of Popcorn Love by K. L. Hughes or Coming Home by KJ (still one of my favourite books), among others. What it lacks in originality, this novel – which started as SuperCat fanfiction – makes up with good writing and endearing characters. Emily is plausibly wonderful, she’s sweet, smart, kind, driven. She’s not perfect and I really liked the way Sommers wrote her simmering anger when things went wrong – as they were bound to go. Camila is an ice queen with unending love for both her son and her job. She sucks at communicating on a personal level and at opening up. She’s a respected professional woman who is convinced she blackens everything she touches when it comes to relationships. Camila believes Emily deserves better than her, that she would inevitably hurt her.
I felt some scenes could have been a little more developed and I wish the author had given more space to Emily’s foster mother. I really liked the foster storyline and what it means to Emily and who she is. Also, given her line of work, I have a very hard time believing Camila doesn’t read the news first thing in the morning or that she doesn’t have an alert (or an assistant with an alert) on her own name.
The best part in stories like these isn’t so much the falling in love itself, it’s the struggle the characters face to not give in. The work relationship, the age gap, the fear of failure which is even stronger when a child is involved, everything combines to make them think their love can’t be. There’s angst, heartbreak, longing, stolen touches and a lot of unfulfilled lust. Sommers did a good job at this, even if it felt a tad repetitive at times, in particular in the lies Camila told herself and Emily in her effort to keep the younger woman away.
What I liked best, however, was Emily’s relationship with Cassie and Maia. The sisters have a hilarious love/tease relationship with Maia acting as the adult – most of the time. The scenes with the three of them were fun and lighthearted when possible, poignant when Emily was heartbroken. My favourite scene in the whole book is probably the one at the gym. I’m not spoiling, go read the book.
All in all, a nice read and hopefully, just the beginning of Rachael Sommers’s career as a published author.
ARC provided to LeZReviewBooks for an honest review.
November 13, 2024
Emily hat gerade das College abgeschlossen und nimmt in New York einen Job als Kindermädchen an, um übergangsweise schon mal ein bisschen Geld zu verdienen. Ihre Arbeitgeberin ist Camila, eine sehr erfolgreiche alleinerziehende Geschäftsfrau.
Die beiden Frauen kommen sich näher, doch ist eine Beziehung zwischen ihnen möglich?
Ein netter Liebesroman mit Happy End und den "typischen" Zweifeln und Hindernissen bis dahin.
Schön zu lesen, aber das gewisse Etwas hat mir irgendwie noch gefehlt.
Die beiden Frauen kommen sich näher, doch ist eine Beziehung zwischen ihnen möglich?
Ein netter Liebesroman mit Happy End und den "typischen" Zweifeln und Hindernissen bis dahin.
Schön zu lesen, aber das gewisse Etwas hat mir irgendwie noch gefehlt.
March 8, 2021
Emily Walker (23) is fresh out of college and is trying to make a life in New York, partly to be closer to her adoptive sister who works there. She tried sending out her resume in order to land a job and couldn’t believe her luck when she got a response. Camila Evans (46?), celebrity-turned-television executive, was looking for a nanny for her 5-year-old son, Jaime. After some unfortunate events with previous nannies, Camila just wants someone competent to look after her son while she is building her career. To their advantage, Jaime instantly took a liking to Emily, which led her to work for her childhood crush, the Camila Evans.
I just need to get this out of the way- the story was reminiscent of Ylva Publishing’s own Popcorn Love, which I really liked. Reading the book, I couldn’t help but cringe at all the similarities. Both bosses are powerful executives focused on their careers, both are single moms, and both are labeled as “ice queens” because of how they do their jobs. On the other hand, the nannies in both stories are young, bright, and all things nice. In both books, the nannies were orphans who had an adoptive sister/best friend treated like a sister. The one that bothered me the most was the same trope about them meeting in a public location while the mom is out with her son, and the nanny is out with her own family, and ending up going together because the kid wants to be with the nanny. It’s not a big deal if you haven’t read Popcorn Love, but it was similar enough to bother me. Thankfully though, the books started to diverge right around the halfway mark.
The writing was okay, although I did get to catch some errors. Like at the start, Jessica (Camila’s assistant) told Emily that she would have an interview “the day after tomorrow”, but then it suddenly became “tomorrow.”
I grew to love Emily, her sister, and her sister’s girlfriend. They were fun and were really great together. I love how protective Cassie was of Emily. However, I never grew to like Camila. She was okay, but I didn’t find myself attached to her even at the end of the book. I was also disappointed at how she was labeled as an ice queen when she is clearly not. A woman focused on her career does not an ice queen make. She was also labeled as a corporate shark, but we barely got to see any part of her job. Maybe I am just spoiled with ice queens like Elena (The Brutal Truth) and Victoria (The Music and the Mirror,) so I’m open to discussion and corrections. 😊
To be completely honest, it was a chill read, but I felt like there was no real depth to the book. I didn’t look forward to finishing it and finding out what would happen. I didn’t feel happy and giddy either. There were also questionable parts of the story, like a 5-year-old boy telling his mom that she’s afraid of loving Emily. What 5-year-old would have that insight? It seems like everyone is just pushing for the two leads to be together just because they are attracted to each other. That being said, they did have a few moments. I appreciate that they talked and got to know each other better. But it seemed like much of their feelings developed behind the scenes. And then after all the push and pull in the book, it was quickly wrapped up towards the end, making it a bit difficult to buy the romance.
Overall, it was an okay book. The epilogue tried to make up for the lack of romance throughout the book, but it didn’t work for me. The book ended with the main characters just starting to get together, and we didn’t actually get to read about them being in a relationship with each other. So I felt like the author “cheated” with the time skip and epilogue. You’ll find out when you read it. Changing my rating to 3 stars.
An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. :)
I just need to get this out of the way- the story was reminiscent of Ylva Publishing’s own Popcorn Love, which I really liked. Reading the book, I couldn’t help but cringe at all the similarities. Both bosses are powerful executives focused on their careers, both are single moms, and both are labeled as “ice queens” because of how they do their jobs. On the other hand, the nannies in both stories are young, bright, and all things nice. In both books, the nannies were orphans who had an adoptive sister/best friend treated like a sister. The one that bothered me the most was the same trope about them meeting in a public location while the mom is out with her son, and the nanny is out with her own family, and ending up going together because the kid wants to be with the nanny. It’s not a big deal if you haven’t read Popcorn Love, but it was similar enough to bother me. Thankfully though, the books started to diverge right around the halfway mark.
The writing was okay, although I did get to catch some errors. Like at the start, Jessica (Camila’s assistant) told Emily that she would have an interview “the day after tomorrow”, but then it suddenly became “tomorrow.”
I grew to love Emily, her sister, and her sister’s girlfriend. They were fun and were really great together. I love how protective Cassie was of Emily. However, I never grew to like Camila. She was okay, but I didn’t find myself attached to her even at the end of the book. I was also disappointed at how she was labeled as an ice queen when she is clearly not. A woman focused on her career does not an ice queen make. She was also labeled as a corporate shark, but we barely got to see any part of her job. Maybe I am just spoiled with ice queens like Elena (The Brutal Truth) and Victoria (The Music and the Mirror,) so I’m open to discussion and corrections. 😊
To be completely honest, it was a chill read, but I felt like there was no real depth to the book. I didn’t look forward to finishing it and finding out what would happen. I didn’t feel happy and giddy either. There were also questionable parts of the story, like a 5-year-old boy telling his mom that she’s afraid of loving Emily. What 5-year-old would have that insight? It seems like everyone is just pushing for the two leads to be together just because they are attracted to each other. That being said, they did have a few moments. I appreciate that they talked and got to know each other better. But it seemed like much of their feelings developed behind the scenes. And then after all the push and pull in the book, it was quickly wrapped up towards the end, making it a bit difficult to buy the romance.
Overall, it was an okay book. The epilogue tried to make up for the lack of romance throughout the book, but it didn’t work for me. The book ended with the main characters just starting to get together, and we didn’t actually get to read about them being in a relationship with each other. So I felt like the author “cheated” with the time skip and epilogue. You’ll find out when you read it. Changing my rating to 3 stars.
An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. :)
March 18, 2021
3.25 Stars
“Never Say Never” is a sweet age-gap, ice queen romance. It’s the debut novel from Rachael Sommers and while I think this had a couple of issues, it’s a promising beginning for Sommers. This started as fanfiction and about halfway through I realized I must’ve read it or something very similar because it was ringing lots of bells for me.
Camila Evans used to have a popular talk show and she’s now the CEO of her own network and she’s in need of a nanny. Emily Walker has graduated college and is trying to save up money for graduate school. She applies for the nanny position because it’s good money and she’s had a lifelong crush on Camila.
Emily is a sweet and smart 23-year-old. She’s had some tragedies in her life with her parents dying when she was young and going into foster care. She’s recently moved to New York to be closer to her foster sister. Camila, on the other hand, is somewhere over 40. She’s a mother to 5-year-old Jaime while also working as the CEO of her network. She has an icy demeanor to those she works with and is known for being difficult.
I guess my first issue was that I recently read another ice queen story where the character was genuinely frosty as a person. Camila’s icy demeanor was more of a front for her work persona. She was sweet and attentive at home, and unfortunately, we never really see the ice queen in her. I was also a little disappointed how quickly she “melted” for Emily. I really loved Emily, but it was hard for me to believe that Camila would be so impressed with her after their first meeting like she was.
The second and biggest issue for me was Jaime. I thought he was cute and precocious most of the time. However, there were too many instances where he was conveniently used for Emily or Camila to have there “ah ha” moments. I’m not sure any 5-year-old is to attuned to their mother they would tell her she’s “just scared” or asking why they didn’t love each other. It was okay the first time, but it made me roll my eyes when it happened again and again.
I enjoyed the push and pull between Camila and Emily. Camila was worried about their age difference and believe Emily deserved better. I also like how Emily reacted to these instances because they felt natural and realistic to me. It did drag on a bit and made the ending seem rushed. We never really see the two together and happy as a couple, it’s just tacked on to the epilogue. I was wishing for maybe a chapter or two of them once they’ve figured everything out but it was a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, I liked it even with its few bumps and issues and I’m looking forward to read whatever Sommers may have next.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
“Never Say Never” is a sweet age-gap, ice queen romance. It’s the debut novel from Rachael Sommers and while I think this had a couple of issues, it’s a promising beginning for Sommers. This started as fanfiction and about halfway through I realized I must’ve read it or something very similar because it was ringing lots of bells for me.
Camila Evans used to have a popular talk show and she’s now the CEO of her own network and she’s in need of a nanny. Emily Walker has graduated college and is trying to save up money for graduate school. She applies for the nanny position because it’s good money and she’s had a lifelong crush on Camila.
Emily is a sweet and smart 23-year-old. She’s had some tragedies in her life with her parents dying when she was young and going into foster care. She’s recently moved to New York to be closer to her foster sister. Camila, on the other hand, is somewhere over 40. She’s a mother to 5-year-old Jaime while also working as the CEO of her network. She has an icy demeanor to those she works with and is known for being difficult.
I guess my first issue was that I recently read another ice queen story where the character was genuinely frosty as a person. Camila’s icy demeanor was more of a front for her work persona. She was sweet and attentive at home, and unfortunately, we never really see the ice queen in her. I was also a little disappointed how quickly she “melted” for Emily. I really loved Emily, but it was hard for me to believe that Camila would be so impressed with her after their first meeting like she was.
The second and biggest issue for me was Jaime. I thought he was cute and precocious most of the time. However, there were too many instances where he was conveniently used for Emily or Camila to have there “ah ha” moments. I’m not sure any 5-year-old is to attuned to their mother they would tell her she’s “just scared” or asking why they didn’t love each other. It was okay the first time, but it made me roll my eyes when it happened again and again.
I enjoyed the push and pull between Camila and Emily. Camila was worried about their age difference and believe Emily deserved better. I also like how Emily reacted to these instances because they felt natural and realistic to me. It did drag on a bit and made the ending seem rushed. We never really see the two together and happy as a couple, it’s just tacked on to the epilogue. I was wishing for maybe a chapter or two of them once they’ve figured everything out but it was a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, I liked it even with its few bumps and issues and I’m looking forward to read whatever Sommers may have next.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2021
I may soon be adding a new name to my list of favorite authors, and that name is Rachael Sommers. I just finished reading Never Say Never, which is Ms. Sommers’ debut novel, and I’m very impressed with her writing.
Of course, it helps that the story is in a genre I love to read. Who doesn’t love a slow-burn, age gap romance with a celebrity ice queen and a strong, intelligent, and beautiful young woman as her love interest. Add in a New York City setting and an adorable four year old boy, and you have most of the ingredients you need for an awesome love story.
The premise of the book is great. The characters are well-developed and easy to connect with. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and the pacing for most of the story is good. There are hurdles in the tale that could keep the couple apart. After all, it isn’t easy to melt an ice queen. It sometimes takes a good bit of angst.
I have only one real critique of the story. The ending seemed rushed and a bit abrupt even with the epilogue. However, for a debut novel, this is a well written romantic tale that I recommend. I look forward to reading Ms. Sommers’ next novel.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Of course, it helps that the story is in a genre I love to read. Who doesn’t love a slow-burn, age gap romance with a celebrity ice queen and a strong, intelligent, and beautiful young woman as her love interest. Add in a New York City setting and an adorable four year old boy, and you have most of the ingredients you need for an awesome love story.
The premise of the book is great. The characters are well-developed and easy to connect with. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and the pacing for most of the story is good. There are hurdles in the tale that could keep the couple apart. After all, it isn’t easy to melt an ice queen. It sometimes takes a good bit of angst.
I have only one real critique of the story. The ending seemed rushed and a bit abrupt even with the epilogue. However, for a debut novel, this is a well written romantic tale that I recommend. I look forward to reading Ms. Sommers’ next novel.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
September 9, 2023
3 stars - all that angst and pining for this to turn out to be a fade-to-black???
And actually it isn’t even fade to black because all we get is one kiss and two short make-out scenes that end as make-out scenes that do not lead to anything that would need to be faded. When the book ended with them finally deciding to try a relationship then a short epilogue two years in the future to tie up the HEA with a bow I was like “You got to be kidding me?!” So annoyed right now.
And actually it isn’t even fade to black because all we get is one kiss and two short make-out scenes that end as make-out scenes that do not lead to anything that would need to be faded. When the book ended with them finally deciding to try a relationship then a short epilogue two years in the future to tie up the HEA with a bow I was like “You got to be kidding me?!” So annoyed right now.
November 25, 2021
Review of Never Say Never by Rachael Sommers, audiobook narrated by Lori Prince
I missed Never Say Never, Rachael Sommers’s debut when it was released in print and as I’m a Lori Prince fan, this was a good chance to catch up with the story in audio format.
Camila Evans is building her television empire and, after her divorce, she’s raising her son alone. But she needs a nanny. Emily Walker is out of college and saving money for a master’s degree. She just needs to get a good nanny job. How hard can it be to work for the ice queen Camila Evans who is as demanding as attractive?
This is an age gap, opposites-attract romance between a nanny and a media mogul. Expect exactly that, a frosty mature ice queen who only melts for her five-year-old son and a young, good-natured nanny who has a great rapport with the kid and a big crush on his mum.
Both main characters are well fleshed out and their chemistry together is built slowly but surely. There is a lot of back and forth, a good bit of angst and some drama. However, don’t expect much regarding sex scenes as they are mainly fade to black which was a bit of a disappointment.
One of the best parts of the book is the relationship between Emily and Camila’s son. I loved that Emily majored in astrophysics, which is unusual for these types of books and raises the profile of women in science. I have to say that the child seems a bit too mature for a 5-year-old, showing empathy that even my 13-year-old hasn’t. But this is a pet peeve of mine and I know I’m being too harsh here, it’s fiction after all and he is an important character who acts as a buffer and a facilitator in the relationship between both mains. Lori Prince performed him very well.
Ms. Prince did another fantastic job as usual. I loved her performance of Camila, she made her sound as aloof and guarded as I imagined. The counterpoint with bright and happy Emily is very well done too. I think that Ms. Prince’s performance enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
If you are looking for an opposites-attract, age-gap romance and don’t mind the lack of sex scenes, then this one might be for you. 4 stars.
Length: 7 hours, 52 minutes
Available in Scribd
I missed Never Say Never, Rachael Sommers’s debut when it was released in print and as I’m a Lori Prince fan, this was a good chance to catch up with the story in audio format.
Camila Evans is building her television empire and, after her divorce, she’s raising her son alone. But she needs a nanny. Emily Walker is out of college and saving money for a master’s degree. She just needs to get a good nanny job. How hard can it be to work for the ice queen Camila Evans who is as demanding as attractive?
This is an age gap, opposites-attract romance between a nanny and a media mogul. Expect exactly that, a frosty mature ice queen who only melts for her five-year-old son and a young, good-natured nanny who has a great rapport with the kid and a big crush on his mum.
Both main characters are well fleshed out and their chemistry together is built slowly but surely. There is a lot of back and forth, a good bit of angst and some drama. However, don’t expect much regarding sex scenes as they are mainly fade to black which was a bit of a disappointment.
One of the best parts of the book is the relationship between Emily and Camila’s son. I loved that Emily majored in astrophysics, which is unusual for these types of books and raises the profile of women in science. I have to say that the child seems a bit too mature for a 5-year-old, showing empathy that even my 13-year-old hasn’t. But this is a pet peeve of mine and I know I’m being too harsh here, it’s fiction after all and he is an important character who acts as a buffer and a facilitator in the relationship between both mains. Lori Prince performed him very well.
Ms. Prince did another fantastic job as usual. I loved her performance of Camila, she made her sound as aloof and guarded as I imagined. The counterpoint with bright and happy Emily is very well done too. I think that Ms. Prince’s performance enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
If you are looking for an opposites-attract, age-gap romance and don’t mind the lack of sex scenes, then this one might be for you. 4 stars.
Length: 7 hours, 52 minutes
Available in Scribd
May 11, 2023
never say never is an age-gap opposites-attract lesbian romance between a middle-aged television mogul and her twenty-something nanny. unfortunately it did not live up to expectations and as a result, is something i can only correlate with being an okay read.
emily walker is 23, fresh out of college and fresh in new york where she is making a life for herself. this life includes working as a nanny for television mogul camila evans andher 5-year-old son jaime. over time the pair understandably fall in love, something that is off limits due to both the age gap and their roles as boss and employee. in just under 300 pages, rachael sommers explores the question of will true love prevail?
you don’t need me to answer that question as the said answer is an obvious one. the romance is one that had an excellent premise that never felt touched on enough and as a result, my excitement towards the pairing dwindled fast. the potential was there but it was not executed. the epilogue tries to build the bridge connecting us to them and their relationship but the time jump means where they are at feels unrealistic due to the restraint that kept them apart throughout the entire novel. i did not buy it even though i so desperately wanted to.
- 2.5 stars rounded down to 2. i tried so hard to love it but it was just not enough.
emily walker is 23, fresh out of college and fresh in new york where she is making a life for herself. this life includes working as a nanny for television mogul camila evans andher 5-year-old son jaime. over time the pair understandably fall in love, something that is off limits due to both the age gap and their roles as boss and employee. in just under 300 pages, rachael sommers explores the question of will true love prevail?
you don’t need me to answer that question as the said answer is an obvious one. the romance is one that had an excellent premise that never felt touched on enough and as a result, my excitement towards the pairing dwindled fast. the potential was there but it was not executed. the epilogue tries to build the bridge connecting us to them and their relationship but the time jump means where they are at feels unrealistic due to the restraint that kept them apart throughout the entire novel. i did not buy it even though i so desperately wanted to.
- 2.5 stars rounded down to 2. i tried so hard to love it but it was just not enough.
August 29, 2025
Narrator Lori Prince 5 ⭐️
Story 3,5 - 4 ⭐️
There was a lot of back and forth from the one MCs which was too much in my opinion.
And the time together as a couple was way too short.
On the plus side: Camila’s character is a perfect Ice-Queen and her son Jaine is adorable.
Story 3,5 - 4 ⭐️
There was a lot of back and forth from the one MCs which was too much in my opinion.
And the time together as a couple was way too short.
On the plus side: Camila’s character is a perfect Ice-Queen and her son Jaine is adorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2023
Started with great potential but fell flat.
Prince’s narration was perfect
Prince’s narration was perfect
March 9, 2021
This was a very nice reading. If you like ice queen stories, go for it!
October 21, 2024
Super-sweet slowburn featuring strong leads (I LOVED Emily!). Fade to black, sure, but everything else is constructed exquisitely by Ms. Sommers.
And Lori Prince performs the audio to perfection.
And Lori Prince performs the audio to perfection.
March 7, 2021
Never Say Never is a romance centered around differences. Older, rich and powerful Camila Evans hires a younger Emily Walker to be a nanny to her five year old son. Emily is taking a break before advancing her higher education. Camila has just gone through her third divorce.
This is Rachael Sommers’ first novel and it definitely hits most of the right notes in the romance genre. The slow build up of interest between Camila and Emily moves at a realistic pace. This is a difficult balancing act to achieve yet Ms Sommers handles it like a pro. As well, the interaction between Emily and Camila’s son Jaime feels natural. They establish a strong rapport quickly and convincingly.
My one disappointment is the lack of the sexual big finish when they do decide to try their hand at a relationship. It was like opening a box of Cracker Jacks and not finding a prize.
Never Say Never is a nice first novel. There is definite room for growth as a novelist but all in all a solid 3.5 ⭐️ stars rounded up to be encouraging.
This is Rachael Sommers’ first novel and it definitely hits most of the right notes in the romance genre. The slow build up of interest between Camila and Emily moves at a realistic pace. This is a difficult balancing act to achieve yet Ms Sommers handles it like a pro. As well, the interaction between Emily and Camila’s son Jaime feels natural. They establish a strong rapport quickly and convincingly.
My one disappointment is the lack of the sexual big finish when they do decide to try their hand at a relationship. It was like opening a box of Cracker Jacks and not finding a prize.
Never Say Never is a nice first novel. There is definite room for growth as a novelist but all in all a solid 3.5 ⭐️ stars rounded up to be encouraging.
September 30, 2021
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Too much angst and very little actual romance but Jamie was an absolute sweetheart and the reason for me rating this book so highly ♥️
Too much angst and very little actual romance but Jamie was an absolute sweetheart and the reason for me rating this book so highly ♥️
March 28, 2021
I actually liked this book, so much so that I pretty much read it straight through. I don't know if it is because I liked both Camila and Emily. Although, I didn't like Camila as much as Emily but it could be a problem with Emily being just a little too perfect, and Camila having most of the problems in the relationship. The novel was also pace very well, and built up the tension between Camila and Emily nicely.
I normally don't like age gap relationships that have such a huge gap between the people in the relationships (and that Emily is in her early twenties), but it didn't feel like there wasn't a power difference with their ages at all. I think its because the pair do balance each other out well. Emily is bright and sunny, and I sensed a bit of an old soul in her that allows her to emphasize with Camila more than I expected. Me being an anime/ manga fan, I think Camila is more a Tsundere than Ice Queen. A Tsundere may seem like an ice queen, but is more awkward around their romantic interest. She does melt for her son, who is doted on by Camila. Yet, Camila cannot make out what to do with Emily, and some of that manifests itself in some harmful ways that was a bit frustrating as the book wore on.
I think people who enjoy a bit of a mash up of genres with interesting leads will like this. Emily and Camila don't stray too far from their archetypes and the book leans heavily on tropes, but it is well put together and a solid read. I am happy with the book, even if I do have to side eye the age gap a little.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I normally don't like age gap relationships that have such a huge gap between the people in the relationships (and that Emily is in her early twenties), but it didn't feel like there wasn't a power difference with their ages at all. I think its because the pair do balance each other out well. Emily is bright and sunny, and I sensed a bit of an old soul in her that allows her to emphasize with Camila more than I expected. Me being an anime/ manga fan, I think Camila is more a Tsundere than Ice Queen. A Tsundere may seem like an ice queen, but is more awkward around their romantic interest. She does melt for her son, who is doted on by Camila. Yet, Camila cannot make out what to do with Emily, and some of that manifests itself in some harmful ways that was a bit frustrating as the book wore on.
I think people who enjoy a bit of a mash up of genres with interesting leads will like this. Emily and Camila don't stray too far from their archetypes and the book leans heavily on tropes, but it is well put together and a solid read. I am happy with the book, even if I do have to side eye the age gap a little.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2021
So in love with this!
Emily lands a dream job working as a nanny to Jamie, the son of her celebrity crush, Camila Evans. As Camila navigates her high-flying career in television, her divorce from her husband, and her feelings for Emily, she finds herself in a minefield where they are both going to get hurt if she doesn’t decide what she wants. Taken with Camila as she is, Emily also finds herself more emotionally invested in her feelings for Camila and now Jamie than she ever imagined. Camila and Emily both find themselves wondering if they may just have found that happy ending they both want after all.
This was the cutest, sweetest, most amazing of stories and I adored every second of it. I was hooked from the first chapter and found it impossible to put it down. For me, this romance is on par with a classic, Popcorn Love, and just got me, as they say these days ‘right in the feels’. I was emotional for so much of this story, that lump in my throat that comes with an age gap romance like this where both characters are wary for different reasons but their chemistry is off the charts, undeniably amazing.
Camila is in the serious running with all the other ice-queens I have ever encountered, and she was so ready to self-sabotage what she knew would be great on a basis of not accepting her feelings and fearing rejection and hurt. I loved how vulnerable she was and how Emily was intuitive enough to see past the ice queen and just knew that, without even having to try and coax it from Camila. Emily was infectious and so I just wanted Camila to act on instinct, every time! It was like torture watching her mess with Emily but I knew she wasn’t doing it on purpose, so I forgave her and willed she would overcome it, all whilst being emotionally connected to Emily and feeling all she did when it came to Camila.
Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show, Jamie. That is kid was so freaking cute and let’s face it, without Jamie, these two would have been a right old mess. The kid just says it as he sees it. He knew what he wanted and he was going to ask for it. I loved every moment with Jamie, he is just as infectious as Emily, so be warned; he’s going to get right in your heart.
I hope we will see more from Emily and Camila in future, but for now, let’s just say ‘Thank God for epilogues!!!’ This is a must read for any romance lover. It has angst, drama, and all the cute lovely fluffy stuff you could want. This is my first Rachael Sommers read, and I can tell you now I can’t wait to see what comes next! This is a go to story, and is like a big cuddle even though it is an emotional rollercoaster at times. I just loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
Emily lands a dream job working as a nanny to Jamie, the son of her celebrity crush, Camila Evans. As Camila navigates her high-flying career in television, her divorce from her husband, and her feelings for Emily, she finds herself in a minefield where they are both going to get hurt if she doesn’t decide what she wants. Taken with Camila as she is, Emily also finds herself more emotionally invested in her feelings for Camila and now Jamie than she ever imagined. Camila and Emily both find themselves wondering if they may just have found that happy ending they both want after all.
This was the cutest, sweetest, most amazing of stories and I adored every second of it. I was hooked from the first chapter and found it impossible to put it down. For me, this romance is on par with a classic, Popcorn Love, and just got me, as they say these days ‘right in the feels’. I was emotional for so much of this story, that lump in my throat that comes with an age gap romance like this where both characters are wary for different reasons but their chemistry is off the charts, undeniably amazing.
Camila is in the serious running with all the other ice-queens I have ever encountered, and she was so ready to self-sabotage what she knew would be great on a basis of not accepting her feelings and fearing rejection and hurt. I loved how vulnerable she was and how Emily was intuitive enough to see past the ice queen and just knew that, without even having to try and coax it from Camila. Emily was infectious and so I just wanted Camila to act on instinct, every time! It was like torture watching her mess with Emily but I knew she wasn’t doing it on purpose, so I forgave her and willed she would overcome it, all whilst being emotionally connected to Emily and feeling all she did when it came to Camila.
Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show, Jamie. That is kid was so freaking cute and let’s face it, without Jamie, these two would have been a right old mess. The kid just says it as he sees it. He knew what he wanted and he was going to ask for it. I loved every moment with Jamie, he is just as infectious as Emily, so be warned; he’s going to get right in your heart.
I hope we will see more from Emily and Camila in future, but for now, let’s just say ‘Thank God for epilogues!!!’ This is a must read for any romance lover. It has angst, drama, and all the cute lovely fluffy stuff you could want. This is my first Rachael Sommers read, and I can tell you now I can’t wait to see what comes next! This is a go to story, and is like a big cuddle even though it is an emotional rollercoaster at times. I just loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
January 16, 2023
I loved Chemistry when I read it last year. So much so that I promised myself I'd find Rachael Sommers' other books and read them. Never Say Never is another great book by Rachael Sommers.
I really liked that both Chemistry and Never Say Never nail excellent ice queens, but also that the relationship development is slow. It's absolutely engaging throughout, but seeing the thaw of the ice queen take place definitely makes it feel more special to read. Camila's thaw to Emily is a great example of that, which completely won me over in Never Say Never.
I will admit though that I would've liked a bit more time with Emily and Camila as a couple. The ending was a tad abrupt, particularly after spending the whole book waiting for them to finallllly get together. The epilogue is ridiculously cute though ❤️
All in all, a great novel featuring an ice queen with an age gap. Also, if you are attempting Jae's Book Bingo in 2023, this falls under lots of different categories but one of the unicorns is number 10: Romance without a sex scene. 😊
I really liked that both Chemistry and Never Say Never nail excellent ice queens, but also that the relationship development is slow. It's absolutely engaging throughout, but seeing the thaw of the ice queen take place definitely makes it feel more special to read. Camila's thaw to Emily is a great example of that, which completely won me over in Never Say Never.
I will admit though that I would've liked a bit more time with Emily and Camila as a couple. The ending was a tad abrupt, particularly after spending the whole book waiting for them to finallllly get together. The epilogue is ridiculously cute though ❤️
All in all, a great novel featuring an ice queen with an age gap. Also, if you are attempting Jae's Book Bingo in 2023, this falls under lots of different categories but one of the unicorns is number 10: Romance without a sex scene. 😊
April 20, 2021
Ice-queen, femme-femme (one of whom is high-powered), age gap romance (a big one!).... so up my alley! Loved it!
Available in Scribd
Available in Scribd
March 13, 2021
Lovely
Camila is a powerful and busy woman who owns a TV network. She’s been divorced for the third time and is raising a 5 yr old son. She has no time and even less desire to find love again, after all, she proven to herself that she is no good at it and her heart is bruised enough for a life time. Right now she needs a new nanny more than anything. Emily is a recent college grad and has decided to make her life in New York to be near her sister. She’s bright, bubbly, sweet and looking for a job. When she finds out there is a job for a nanny and its for her idol and crush Camilla, she jumps at the chance for the job. Luckily for us she gets it because now the scene is set for a wonderful romantic book by newcomer Rachael Sommers.
I adored this book! I can’t believe it is a debut novel. It is so well written, both the storyline and technically. It flowed well, no mistakes that I picked up, it was interesting and kept me attention all the way through. I really enjoyed this tale. It was sweet and fun, engaging, entertaining and enthralling. Camila was a bit of an ice queen but with all of the responsibilities she has its not surprising. Emily was a perfect balance for her with her calm, nurturing temperament. I loved their chemistry and the way they danced around their attraction while pretending that they didn’t feel the way they do. Jamie, Camila’s son, was so adorable. He was the perfect bit of glue to bind Camila and Emily together. He was just so darn cute and I loved watching him and Emily bond…. It gave me the warm fuzzies! This is such a good book and I know I will be re-reading it soon!
Camila is a powerful and busy woman who owns a TV network. She’s been divorced for the third time and is raising a 5 yr old son. She has no time and even less desire to find love again, after all, she proven to herself that she is no good at it and her heart is bruised enough for a life time. Right now she needs a new nanny more than anything. Emily is a recent college grad and has decided to make her life in New York to be near her sister. She’s bright, bubbly, sweet and looking for a job. When she finds out there is a job for a nanny and its for her idol and crush Camilla, she jumps at the chance for the job. Luckily for us she gets it because now the scene is set for a wonderful romantic book by newcomer Rachael Sommers.
I adored this book! I can’t believe it is a debut novel. It is so well written, both the storyline and technically. It flowed well, no mistakes that I picked up, it was interesting and kept me attention all the way through. I really enjoyed this tale. It was sweet and fun, engaging, entertaining and enthralling. Camila was a bit of an ice queen but with all of the responsibilities she has its not surprising. Emily was a perfect balance for her with her calm, nurturing temperament. I loved their chemistry and the way they danced around their attraction while pretending that they didn’t feel the way they do. Jamie, Camila’s son, was so adorable. He was the perfect bit of glue to bind Camila and Emily together. He was just so darn cute and I loved watching him and Emily bond…. It gave me the warm fuzzies! This is such a good book and I know I will be re-reading it soon!
March 13, 2021
Emily Walker had a good childhood but it came to an end when she lost both her mother and father. Leaving Emily to survive foster care for the first couple of years. Her first homes were not that great but she got lucky with her last placement. Great foster parent’s that welcomed her into their family. It also came with an older sister that opened her heart as well. Now she’s in NY with her sister hoping to find a job so she could pursue her masters in astrophysics. Now to find a job. She never expected she would get the job as her idol's young son.
Camila Evans, CEO of her own television network made for a busy life that meant she had to find a nanny for her son, Jaime. She knew she wasn’t easy to work for, expecting her employees to work every bit as hard as she did. Now she needed a new nanny. That's where Emily comes in. Little did she know that the young woman had been crushing on her for a few years now but one thing she did notice was that Emily was a very beautiful young woman, a young woman that was half Camila’s age.
But her son loved Emily right from the start so what was she to do but give her a job and try to make the situation work for all of them. Ms Sommers has taken a story that many of us have already read before but with her great dialogue, fast paced story she makes it seem like you had never read that plot before. Lots of ups and downs making this story well worth the time it will take to read. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via Ylva Publishing
Camila Evans, CEO of her own television network made for a busy life that meant she had to find a nanny for her son, Jaime. She knew she wasn’t easy to work for, expecting her employees to work every bit as hard as she did. Now she needed a new nanny. That's where Emily comes in. Little did she know that the young woman had been crushing on her for a few years now but one thing she did notice was that Emily was a very beautiful young woman, a young woman that was half Camila’s age.
But her son loved Emily right from the start so what was she to do but give her a job and try to make the situation work for all of them. Ms Sommers has taken a story that many of us have already read before but with her great dialogue, fast paced story she makes it seem like you had never read that plot before. Lots of ups and downs making this story well worth the time it will take to read. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via Ylva Publishing
April 3, 2021
I was hesitated about reading this book because of the mix reviews, but I am very glad I went ahead and bought the book. I enjoyed it very much since I started reading, I couldn't put it down and even though I did notice the similarities to another book, it got to a point where it became a good, interesting, original story.
I loved all the characters, Jamie stole my heart from the beginning, Emily's relationship with her sister and sister in law was funny and great to read. You can see Camila and Emily's relationship evolve and it felt real.
It is a slow burn, some angst and a story where you can see the characters grow. Great book.
I loved all the characters, Jamie stole my heart from the beginning, Emily's relationship with her sister and sister in law was funny and great to read. You can see Camila and Emily's relationship evolve and it felt real.
It is a slow burn, some angst and a story where you can see the characters grow. Great book.
December 15, 2021
Sexy/icy boss and saccharine “smart girl” romance is one of my favorite tropes, and Never Say Never fits the bill...mostly, but I found myself wishing for more detail on several points:
• Camila's work—little snippets or details to understand what was so demanding of her time and how she was perceived by the world at large.
• Is Camila like Regina Mills—kind of evil and also broken inside? Is she more like Miranda Priestly—ruthless, cunning, always ahead of the game, and the envy of all?
• Beyond Camila’s prestige, and her physical attractiveness (though there wasn't much in the way of description of her appearance beyond her clothing choices), what actually made Emily want to be with her?
The book was timelined to be a slow burn, but their mutual attraction wasn't developed enough, and (apart from the taboo of dating a younger woman and a subordinate) it was unclear why Camila was so hesitant to move things forward with Emily (though there was one comment from Camila about her reasons right at the end, it felt unsupported by the rest of the book).
The potential was there with their chemistry, but I finished this book with a lot of unanswered questions that distracted me from appreciating the pairing's eventual union.
• Camila's work—little snippets or details to understand what was so demanding of her time and how she was perceived by the world at large.
• Is Camila like Regina Mills—kind of evil and also broken inside? Is she more like Miranda Priestly—ruthless, cunning, always ahead of the game, and the envy of all?
• Beyond Camila’s prestige, and her physical attractiveness (though there wasn't much in the way of description of her appearance beyond her clothing choices), what actually made Emily want to be with her?
The book was timelined to be a slow burn, but their mutual attraction wasn't developed enough, and (apart from the taboo of dating a younger woman and a subordinate) it was unclear why Camila was so hesitant to move things forward with Emily (though there was one comment from Camila about her reasons right at the end, it felt unsupported by the rest of the book).
The potential was there with their chemistry, but I finished this book with a lot of unanswered questions that distracted me from appreciating the pairing's eventual union.
March 17, 2021
I was drawn in immediately to this sweet story about a nanny and a businesswoman CEO. There is an age gap between them, but although Emily is 23, all I read about Camila’s age is that she’s over 40. The two women are definitely opposites. Emily just moved to New York and applied to be a nanny for Camila’s son, Jamie. Emily always had a crush on Camila so she’s nervous about interviewing. Camila has a reputation as demanding ice queen. That’s where this romance starts.
There’s a push and pull dynamic that goes on between them throughout the whole book. Emily is smitten immediately, probably because of the crush, but Camila is very aware that Emily is her employee, plus her son really likes Emily so she doesn’t want to get involved and have to get a new nanny. Camila is pretty conflicted, Emily not so much, although she does have feelings about Camila’s behavior. Camila, the ice queen, is reluctant to let anyone in again. Even though it was frustrating at times, I enjoyed the dynamics between them. This is very much centered on the relationship between the two women. There’s very little about their lives otherwise, except for a few scenes. That worked for me; I didn’t need to know more about Camila’s business enterprise. The opening scenes were enough for me to get an idea of the kind of executive she is.
Emily’s family is very supportive of her, and her sister Cassie is the sister I wish I had had. The supporting characters are drawn well enough to flesh out the two main characters, giving them a backstory, motivation, and support. Emily’s story is a little weird. It just seemed odd that with her studies, she would choose to be a caretaker, but maybe the decision was based on her crush. The novel pretty much follows the usual romance path, but it all worked.
There’s a push and pull dynamic that goes on between them throughout the whole book. Emily is smitten immediately, probably because of the crush, but Camila is very aware that Emily is her employee, plus her son really likes Emily so she doesn’t want to get involved and have to get a new nanny. Camila is pretty conflicted, Emily not so much, although she does have feelings about Camila’s behavior. Camila, the ice queen, is reluctant to let anyone in again. Even though it was frustrating at times, I enjoyed the dynamics between them. This is very much centered on the relationship between the two women. There’s very little about their lives otherwise, except for a few scenes. That worked for me; I didn’t need to know more about Camila’s business enterprise. The opening scenes were enough for me to get an idea of the kind of executive she is.
Emily’s family is very supportive of her, and her sister Cassie is the sister I wish I had had. The supporting characters are drawn well enough to flesh out the two main characters, giving them a backstory, motivation, and support. Emily’s story is a little weird. It just seemed odd that with her studies, she would choose to be a caretaker, but maybe the decision was based on her crush. The novel pretty much follows the usual romance path, but it all worked.
October 15, 2023
She’d already fallen so far she didn’t know how she’d ever surface again.
3.5 stars. Lots of great things about this one, a lot of my favourite tropes and devices, but it didn't really come together in the best way. This is another one of those books where it feels very solidly like a 3.5, and I don't know whether or not to round up or down; I guess I'll see what I decided on when I click post. This is an f/f age gap, opposites attract, nanny romance between a high powered TV executive and the new nanny of her five year old son.
As always, I'm a little leery about ice queen characters, because many authors don't manage to balance that tightrope of a perfectly cold and composed and ruthless woman, and instead write a character who's just a bit of a dick. At first, I found Camila to be more on the latter end of the spectrum, so I wasn't mad about the fact that she thawed pretty quickly. We actually barely see her at work. Seeing how she is with her son, and how that transfers to Emily, really endeared her to me. It's a pretty slow burn, obviously forbidden, and we see every step of wanting, of attraction, how they try to endlessly deny themselves before giving in. Emily, the optimistic artist, black-belt, future astrophysicist student (she had... a lot going on) was more open to it. I love the fact that she had a crush on Camila for years, and the fact that her crush is so immediately obvious to Camila. It was so cute, and led to some really great moments. Her connection with Jaime also really really warmed my heart.
Where this came close to losing me, and maybe did lose me a little, is in all the push-and-pull. Obviously there's nothing better than a slow burn, and I love when characters take time before they admit their feelings, to themselves and to the love interest. But there was just one too many instances of 'I'm gong to open myself up to the possibility of something with you... actually no, I change my mind!!' I know that there are books that I have enjoyed that manage to do that back-and-forth with the characters in an appealing way, but this author didn't quite strike the perfect balance. We went back and forth so many times it started to feel like the characters were at a standstill. I can enjoy that dynamic up to a point, especially in a slow burn, but the last time it happened (they kiss, and one character is then like 'no, we can't do this!!), it really was soo much. It meant that we barely go to see Emily and Camila together as a couple. That's another thing that can and has worked for me in other books, but here, it just left me feeling unsatisfied, in need of 30 more pages to round everything else out. Another thing that I liked sometimes but disliked other times was the characterisation of Jaime. Sometimes, he seemed like a perfectly normal young kid; not always articulate, and single-minded in the way young children often are. But then other times the author would give him these profound lines that helped nudge the main characters towards a realisation or something, and it was just too unbelievable. A lot of fiction writers like to do the whole 'out of the mouth of babes' thing, and it can be appropriate sometimes, but mostly it just felt like... no kid actually talks like that.
I mean, I really did like this; make no mistake. The character archetypes, the pacing, the tropes, the side characters: all favourites of mine, in a pretty well-written package. It ticks all the boxes of a good single parent romance; Emily was falling for both Camila and Jaime at the same time. I loved the tension and the frequent forced proximity, and there were a lot of precious moments. I just wish this had been structured better, especially in the latter half.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lori Prince, and it was wonderful! Wasn't a fan of some of the voices for the side characters, but I loved her narration for the mains. I think this definitely reads like a debut, but that's a good thing, because it gives me hope that my future reads from this author will be even better.
March 28, 2021
Finally, a book about lesbians who eat real food, i.e. pasta, a salad, sometimes some soup. So far I have not had a chance to read about such. Everybody knows that having food is the second most pleasant activity in human’s life.
The book does not contain much steamy sex scenes, however intense chemistry is all over there from the very beginning to enjoy.
What I like most is that the main characters are very attractive, each in their own different way. Emily, as a 23-year-old seems to be quite mature. It happens, especially due to her life experience. Camila (Cruella) is so annoying sometimes that I was close to stop reading it. Instead I used a few handkerchiefs, because I felt really sorry for Emily for being treated that way. If I were her, I would give up on Cruella in the first case.
Definitely, Jamie steals the show. He is so smart. What do they feed the kids with nowadays?
All of all, I love Cassie, Emily’s sister. She seems to be the only sensible person in this flock. It would be great to have such a lady by my side.
Also I like the elaborate descriptions of emotions. There was happening a lot, so I expected the turn in a plot in the middle of the book, as usual. It came a lot later.
What I did not like was the lack of interaction between Emily and Camila. As someone said before, they did not spend much time together. It was hard to believe they fell for each other so much. Was this infatuation only in their heads? If so, why was there so much sacrifice? Also, some parts of the text were out of the blue, like from other story.
All in all, it is a good read worth recommending to those who like ice queens who make sweet girls feel hurt and low.
The book does not contain much steamy sex scenes, however intense chemistry is all over there from the very beginning to enjoy.
What I like most is that the main characters are very attractive, each in their own different way. Emily, as a 23-year-old seems to be quite mature. It happens, especially due to her life experience. Camila (Cruella) is so annoying sometimes that I was close to stop reading it. Instead I used a few handkerchiefs, because I felt really sorry for Emily for being treated that way. If I were her, I would give up on Cruella in the first case.
Definitely, Jamie steals the show. He is so smart. What do they feed the kids with nowadays?
All of all, I love Cassie, Emily’s sister. She seems to be the only sensible person in this flock. It would be great to have such a lady by my side.
Also I like the elaborate descriptions of emotions. There was happening a lot, so I expected the turn in a plot in the middle of the book, as usual. It came a lot later.
What I did not like was the lack of interaction between Emily and Camila. As someone said before, they did not spend much time together. It was hard to believe they fell for each other so much. Was this infatuation only in their heads? If so, why was there so much sacrifice? Also, some parts of the text were out of the blue, like from other story.
All in all, it is a good read worth recommending to those who like ice queens who make sweet girls feel hurt and low.
June 21, 2022
Lori Prince narrates this age gap, celebrity romance, and does a superb job doing it. Rachael Sommers is a new to me author, and even though she has included a few common tropes the story surprisingly doesn’t focus on the fame of one of the characters, or the age gap between both. Instead, we see the development of relationships, the building of family, and the hurt caused by wrong choices.
Camila runs one of the most successful studios in America. She is abrasive, confrontational, and doesn’t have time for Stupid. Her son is her world though and she needs a new nanny. Emily Walker needs a job; newly arrived in New York, and in desperate need to earn money she finds herself thrust into the world of her teenage crush.
The chemistry is instant between Camila and Lauren, but their communication sucks. As Lauren creates a bond with Camilla’s son, her friendship with Camilla grows, and both women find themselves secretly pinning for each other. Until moves are made, and hearts are broken…there are tears, and bitterness, snarky comments, but it is still sweetly romantic. Low angst considering the lack of communication, but it’s clear the two MCs will find their way to a HEA, so worth checking out for a easy read/listen.
Camila runs one of the most successful studios in America. She is abrasive, confrontational, and doesn’t have time for Stupid. Her son is her world though and she needs a new nanny. Emily Walker needs a job; newly arrived in New York, and in desperate need to earn money she finds herself thrust into the world of her teenage crush.
The chemistry is instant between Camila and Lauren, but their communication sucks. As Lauren creates a bond with Camilla’s son, her friendship with Camilla grows, and both women find themselves secretly pinning for each other. Until moves are made, and hearts are broken…there are tears, and bitterness, snarky comments, but it is still sweetly romantic. Low angst considering the lack of communication, but it’s clear the two MCs will find their way to a HEA, so worth checking out for a easy read/listen.
October 16, 2025
4.25⭐
I can see why not everyone would like this but it's definitely my kind of book.
I loved the main characters and all of the side characters, which is really rare since I usually don't care about side characters at all.
I thought it was written very well, especially for a really short book - it didn't feel short and it didn't feel rushed or insta-love.
The romance could have been great surely, if there had been more of it.
They only get together at like 99% and for half of the book they weren't even really on good terms.
It did make sense that Camila was hesitant to date Emily and tried to push her away but for the love of God, why did that last for 100 pages.
It got really repetitive and slightly annoying.
I love slow burn, so I still enjoyed it but it got to a point where even I was over it.
Camila should have just talked to her and not push her away and the whole "I'm not good at communicating" is just lame.
But my biggest issue was the whole Megan situation.
I don't want to spend a single second in a relationship (casual or not) that isn't the main one. I don't even want to consider it. I don't want there to be more love interests than the main one.
Especially if it's so ridiculously unnecessary like in this book.
Thankfully it didn't go on for long because otherwise I would have probably DNFed.
Some might say I'm overreacting but I despise things like that.
I can see why not everyone would like this but it's definitely my kind of book.
I loved the main characters and all of the side characters, which is really rare since I usually don't care about side characters at all.
I thought it was written very well, especially for a really short book - it didn't feel short and it didn't feel rushed or insta-love.
The romance could have been great surely, if there had been more of it.
They only get together at like 99% and for half of the book they weren't even really on good terms.
It did make sense that Camila was hesitant to date Emily and tried to push her away but for the love of God, why did that last for 100 pages.
It got really repetitive and slightly annoying.
I love slow burn, so I still enjoyed it but it got to a point where even I was over it.
Camila should have just talked to her and not push her away and the whole "I'm not good at communicating" is just lame.
But my biggest issue was the whole Megan situation.
I don't want to spend a single second in a relationship (casual or not) that isn't the main one. I don't even want to consider it. I don't want there to be more love interests than the main one.
Especially if it's so ridiculously unnecessary like in this book.
Thankfully it didn't go on for long because otherwise I would have probably DNFed.
Some might say I'm overreacting but I despise things like that.
January 19, 2022
szybki i przyjemny w czytaniu romans, który był niczym bardzo dobre fanfiction!
główna bohaterka dawała mi takie vibes Mirandy Priestly z DWP and i loved it<333
główna bohaterka dawała mi takie vibes Mirandy Priestly z DWP and i loved it<333
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