The Other Brother

by Daisy Jane

On the heels of tragedy, high school senior Cordelia Albright finds herself in a new town, at a new school, living in a new home… with a man she’s never met.

Dr. Quinten Wilder has what he needs. His home, his practice, his routine. When he’s asked to do a favor for someone, he agrees, not knowing how that deed will change his life forever.


The Other Brother is a slow burn romance featuring a couple with a significant age gap. The story explores themes of loss and grief, acceptance and forgiveness.

Author’s Note: For content warnings and more information, please visit the author’s website.

Genres: Slow Burn, Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Friends To Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Mental Health

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Daisy Jane is a forbidden love romance author, inspired by VC Andrews and more . When she's not penning a hot age gap novel or dreaming up steamy stories, she's enjoying the sunshine and warmth at her home in California. She enjoys reading, true crime, exercise and, of course, romance.

Connect with Daisy!

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Reviews

[Deniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book. It’s so beautifully written and so much more than I expected. A slow burn age gap romance...perfect slow burn that leaves you wanting more.
I still have a huge smile on my face after reading it. Definitely recommend!

[abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

➸ 4 stars

Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Dual POV; First Person
↬ Age-Gap (42 and 18)
↬ Friends to Lovers
↬ Taboo
↬ Forced Proximity
↬ Angst and Grief Healing

Ratings:
↬ Characters: 5/5
↬ Plot: 4/5
↬ Structure 4/5
↬ World-Building: 3/5
↬ Writing: 5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 4/5
↬ Read: on Kindle

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐


I love taboo age gap books like this, and I’m really happy to say that The Other Brother worked quite well for me. This book reminded me a lot of Sweet Dandelion by Micalea Smeltzer. Our heroine, Cordelia’s father dies in an accident and she’s forced to go live with her pseudo uncle. Her uncle, burdened and triggered by Cordelia and her trauma sends her to live with his brother, Quinten. The premise of this book was just as great as the execution.

The characters were flawlessly written, and I thought the exploration/execution of both Cordelia and Quinten was well done, and I thought their relationship was not only believable, but also quite authentic. Their age-gap is really big, and something I would absolutely be side eyeing in real life. Quinten is 42 and Cordelia is 17 at the start of the book (but she is 18 when they get together). Despite their age difference, I still think this author did a really good job of connecting them and giving them things to discuss. There was a lot of time focusing on Cordelia’s trauma, that the overall impact with Cordelia and Quinten just felt so realistic and thoughtful. I also thought the way Cordelia was written really helped make the age-gap believable. She’s very mature, mostly due to the accident in which she lost her father, and it really showed well in her character. I also loved how much she loved reading, especially reading aloud. This author’s passion for Cordelia and her hobbies really bled through the pages.

The writing was also quite fantastic, and something I unfortunately was really surprised by. This author is so underrated, and this book doesn’t even have 500 ratings, so for this author to be so well crafted is such a crime. This book really was great. I will say, Quade, Cordelia’s uncle’s reaction their relationship was super unrealistic. But this was really well written, and a great read so I decided to look past it. Definitely recommend The Other Brother. The corny cover and title really don’t do the contents inside of this book justice.

[NaShara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the ARC of The Other Brother, and oh my goodness! It was so much more than I expected. I have a huge smile on my face after reading it. For a slow burn age gap romance, it explores some weighty topics such as grief, PTSD, and survivors' guilt yet still delivers a totally satisfying HEA. I loved it!

[Mika Auguste · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf

[Adrienne Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn, age gap, virgin story that deals with grief, PTSD, loss and so much more! There were so many things I loved about this book! Cordelia is so strong for how young she is and such an old soul. Quentin is such an honorable man despite his own thoughts of himself. The age gap was more than I was expecting but still worked. I was glad the virgin aspect wasn’t ridiculously written like a majority of the virgin tropes I’ve read are. And the slow burn was worth the build up! Overall, well done!

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I actually think I discovered a genius here. Stumbled upon this gem author and her spin on “taboo” relationships are really beautiful. This one was def unexpected. I went in thinking some fatal attraction maybe chemistry but all smut.

Surprised to see the beautiful genuine connection between the characters that the author took time and major craft to build. I honestly was rooting for them because they were two beautiful people. Even the mmc was vulnerable and emotionally intelligent enough to recognize his own troubles he is bringing and the work he needed to do. This was written with such attention to details and filled with small lil things that brought me joy🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

[Melanie♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Adrienne Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn, age gap, virgin story that deals with grief, PTSD, loss and so much more! There were so many things I loved about this book! Cordelia is so strong for how young she is and such an old soul. Quentin is such an honorable man despite his own thoughts of himself. The age gap was more than I was expecting but still worked. I was glad the virgin aspect wasn’t ridiculously written like a majority of the virgin tropes I’ve read are. And the slow burn was worth the build up! Overall, well done!

[Amrita · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly heart twisting.

I literally never give 5 stars. I loved loved loved this book. It’s so beautifully written, you really feel the characters relationship and build up to a relationship. He’s 41 and she’s 18…. It’s written well… not as odd as I thought it might be…. Read the book!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the tension between them but hated the dead ex stuff...😮‍💨
Not a fan of all the ow mentions

[Lolo · Rating 1 out of 5]

He yawned, she yawned I YAWNED 🥱 THE FUCK? I tried really hard to ignore this shit, especially after the author told us he yawned ON REPEAT but the shit with the heroine starting to yawn too? It's fucking over with this book! How irritating small things can be but I just can't read a book with a hero who YAWNS from the beginning of the story and I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT 😮‍💨

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Slow burn. If you love to dabble in the slow burns and you are gaga over age gap romances, then this is absolutely the book for you. I love insta romances but I can hang with the slow burns, too. They got to give me something worth hanging on to though. I need a story that grabs my attention and pulls me in immediately. There has to be a romance that I can savor and an intimacy that radiates from the pages. And you guys, this one did all that and more.

I went in blind to this one. I wasn’t sure which brother we were getting the story with. And boy when that bomb was dropped, I was like ok. Ok. Yeah. Then I was Quade, who?? Because Quinten took over and invaded my every thought from there on out. Nothing but Cordy and Quinten.

Again, this is a absolute, 100% slow burn. Do not expect to be thrown into the schmexy for a bit. But definitely prepare for the ache and all the delicious tension. But y’all, the wait is achingly worth the burn.

Jane, you and your age gap romances wow me every single time. Don’t ever stop!! THE OTHER BROTHER was everything yummy, angsty, emotional that you could ever want in a book. 5 stars!!

[Skye Yanovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Burn Age Gap Taboo! Loved!!

If you like age gap, taboo guardian/ward romances then run and check out The Other Brother. I devoured this book. It’s emotional and does have a lot of heavy issues woven into Cordelia and Quentin’s story which is slow burn, beautiful with amazing chemistry.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, kept me interested. Felt kind of rushed at the end but overall a good read

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like my heroines at bit more innocent but overall a really good book

[anna. ׂׂૢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ´ˎ˗

﹌﹌﹌
2.5 stars!! I'm not sure if this book was just good or just horrible, but it kept me interested. I was unable to determine the story's main conflict or its true significance. I am aware of Cordy's trauma, the fact that Quinten is a troubled individual, and the fact that Cordy ultimately moved in with Quinten after being abandoned by his brother Quade. Even though this entire section seems unclear, you can actually see how this even happened when you read the story. Even though I usually fail at it, I try to avoid giving away specific details in my reviews. However, I'll just state that Cordy's trauma is the root of all of this. Quinten and Cordy's romance took a while to blossom, which was both good and strange. While I didn't find the age difference to be wholly odd, I did find the lack of affection they shared to be wholly odd. I didn't like that kind of component of the relationship since I thought the love was too hurried. The love that they had just seemed to not be set in the right place I would say. I did enjoy every positive experience, as well as the understanding that occurred when problems arise. Despite a few aspects I didn't like about it, I thought this book to be intriguing overall.

﹌﹌﹌

[Geeky Girl Review Cafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider Daisy Jane to be the queen of slow burn romances. And she's done it again with this one, I bow to her amazing skill. She keeps me on the edge of my seat for the entire time I read her books and I leave them never wanting to let go.

In this one we get a yummy age gap romance, while also tackling some heavy topics like PTSD and survivor's guilt...done in JUST the right way.

I appreciate Daisy's attention to world and character building in each and every one of her books. It's something I as a reader look for and value most in the books that I choose to spend my time and money on.

If you are a reader who enjoys a true age gap (24 years in this one) and can handle real life/heavier topics in your romance this is one you DO NOT want to pass by. You'll thank me for it later ;)

[Melluvsbooks]

DNF @ 10% - depressing. I can tell this vibe isn’t for me. Age-gap too wide - not loving the h

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

-=- 3.5 stars -=-

This was an unexpectedly deep story about finding love through grief- one that I wasn't expecting from DJ.

It carried a lot of that emotional depth between the MCs that I had wanted from her other books.

There were certain pacing and time jumps throughout the story that left me wanting more from certain scenes and tension (the conflict at the end also felt a bit unnecessary to me), but all in all, I enjoyed the book.

[Rachel ⭐️🖤💋Dark & Dirty & A Lot Of Smutty Reviews💋🖤⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know why the ratings on this book isn’t higher than it is. This was an emotion-filled, slow-burn, age-gap read that had me in its grasp from the first chapter. It deals with loss, guilt, survivor’s guilt, depression, and let’s not forget…love. I don’t read many slow-burn books, but when I do it’s usually age-gap books. The gap with this book is 24 years (18/42) but when it’s a man like Dr. Wilder it wouldn’t bother me if he was older than that. Swoon! And Cordelia is a very mature 18 year old woman. The book does start while she’s 17, but nothing happens between them till after she turned 18. I cried while reading parts of this book and also smiled so it had an impact on my emotions. It was very well written. This is the first book I’ve ready by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. Especially since she has more age-gap books. Those are one of my favorites to read.

[Mindy Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved….

The H was amazing!!!! Older man early 40s, sexy, smart, devoted and delicious ❤️❤️

The h was 17/18yr old, sweet, traumatized, vulnerable, mature (even more so than the hero at times)

This is a slow burn romance but the sexual tension is off the charts😍😍😍 I even fell in love with all the sweet actions/gestures that happened before the sex. The couple of sex scenes that we do get are beautifully erotic ❤️❤️ 🔥🔥🔥


What I wish was different to make this 5 stars…..

Yes we did get an epilogue but I wanted one further out. I really want to get a glimpse into family life more (this is just my greedy self talking)

I was actually hoping for a little outside drama regarding the age gap I thought that the secretary Ida might have something to say about it and get put in her place but that didn’t happen. . I like seeing judgmental people get put in their place 🙂


Overall I really enjoyed this one and can see myself revisiting it often!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cordelia has been through some trauma and is just trying to survive, let alone looking for love. Yet that is exactly what she finds, while building a trusting relationship with her guardian's older brother. He's much older and she believes he can't possibly want her. He tries to be a good man and not go after the much younger ward, but they just complement each other so well. They work through some personal traumas and difficulties to find their HEA.

The slow burn allowed for a more organic chemistry to grow, allowing both to be adults before progressing in the relationship.

I love Dr. Wilder. So patient and understanding, he just seems to sense everything that Cordelia needs from him and he plans ahead to be sure she has those needs met.

[readingeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was no Big Daddy, I think my expectations were set too high. It’s a slow burn, age gap, taboo romance… but I didn’t feel that. Where was the strife, emotional angst, or moral dilemmas? The MMC Quinten (age 42) has to take in the FMC Cordelia (age 17) after her father tragically passes. Quade (her father’s best friend) is her actual legal guardian but because of his own struggles with PTSD he basically gives her to his brother Quinten to deal with. Quinten is a psychiatrist and doesn’t seem to feel a smidge of guilt or questioning his growing attraction and longing for his much younger ward. Like you’re not at all questioning your feelings for a grief stricken, high school student who’s over 20 years younger, in a vulnerable state and you’re responsible for taking care of her?

I’m not here to judge (well kind of), but I prefer when there’s a lot of internal fighting the urge or feeling that it’s wrong but can’t be stopped when I’m reading a taboo age gap. Things just happened too smoothly between the two. It boiled down to “I like you” and “I like you too” that was the culminating moment. Then the major conflict between them felt silly and over dramatized when it happened. I also found it odd that the brother Quade, who had known Cordelia all her life and was like a second father to her, immediately got on board with his 42 year old brother being in love with her. Just felt like there were a lot of missed opportunities for emotional turmoil in the story. But it did hold my attention and I read it quickly! I do like Daisy Jane’s writing regardless, hence the 3 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars. I'm sure I'll read this again and again.
This book has a bit of everything, angst, very well developed characters, plot...everything. I read this in one day, I was totally engrossed, could not put it down, it was ignored-my-boyfriend-when-he-tried-making-conversation-with-me-good.
It was taboo--but Daisy Jane did a good job at making the h age NOT the reason the H was attracted to her. This wasn't porn-y (despite it having some really hot scenes), it was actually quite beautifully written. This is mainly about a young woman (very young woman) going through grief. Her father died in a tragic accident and she's having to go through the stages of grief with very little support. There are no 'bad' guys in this book, there's one character that at first I was like "That bastard!" but Daisy Jones shows why he had to make the decision he did, and that he truly wasn't bad. All the characters had multiple layers.
I feel like their first kiss was quite sudden, and I would have liked a bit more buildup to that first kiss--but that's just me, I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority with that. This is considered a slow-burn, and I doubt many besides me wanted it to be an even slower-burn...

[Marie Bullington · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good I loved it!

[Jaclyn Sellentine]

dnf @67%
This had so much promise going in, but unfortunately it didn’t end up doing anything for me. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters and I noticed one too many grammatical errors for this not to bug me. It also felt a little… cheesy in the wrong ways? don’t get me wrong, I love a good corny romance but it was almost too corny for me
It’s not like an insta love kind of romance, but it’s too slow with barely any chemistry or romance.

[Eria SB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wonderful idea , badly implemented !

[Macey (spoilers!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 harry potter books I'm gonna be rereading sometime soon ⭐️

🟢 What I liked:
✿ Cordelia's grief process was one of the few realistic portrayals I've read this year. The only problem I had with it was I hoped there were more scenes of her alone/with her therapist where we see her process everything. Kind of like what happened after she cried over Casino Royale.

✿ Her coping mechanism is a nice touch. It's so unique and very specific to her experience. The best thing about it is she was able to make it her career. There's something special about finding new ways to love the things that you once did with the loved ones you lost, ways that will keep it alive.

✿ Therapy is important af. I appreciate how therapy and therapists are portrayed here unlike some books that I've read in the past where therapists are portrayed as some kind of forceful activity that you had to endure. Her first therapist was gery respectful of her and allowed her to act on her angst, I feel like Cordelia's relationship with therapy itself is very realistic. She was a young girl who lost her only parent so of course she's going to be fucking angsty. But eventually it will be a tool for her healing process. Besides, therapy is not confined to a room a couch. The other therapeutic activities she did were her reading book to the kids (for her dad), doing yoga (for her stopping cheerleading), making friends (for the ones that she lost), and learning to open up and trust other people more (for herself).

🔴 What I didn't liked:
✿ I know very well that I'm reading a taboo romance novel but it still strucks me whenever Quinten shows sexual attraction towards Cordelia when she was still 17. It doesn't help that they become together when she was 18 because it was literally on the day she turned 18. I just feel icky and it kind of takes away from the romantic aura. Though I'm still thankful nothing illegal was committed cause I already sinned enough from Zade Meadows.

✿ Quade is a lovely character and I really wanted to understand his predicament but I can't find it in me to justify him leaving a grieving young woman in a stranger's (to her) house. PTSD or not, there are a lot of different ways he could have done this. Most importantly, he could have talked to her and clarified clearly how he's unable to take care of her because of his mental state because it's not like Cordelia's coming off like a petulant teenager. They keep reiterating that she's "mature for her age" and besides having a relationship with an older man, there's no other plot tied to this.

[Nicolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

I really enjoyed this one! It’s easily one of the best age-gap/taboo romances I’ve read in a while. Thoughtful, emotional, and surprisingly grounded.

The story follows Cordelia, a high school senior dealing with the recent loss of her father, who died in a tragic water accident that she was also involved in. After the accident, she’s placed under the guardianship of Quade, her father’s best friend and a former Marine who struggles with PTSD and isn’t emotionally equipped to care for her. So, he turns to his older brother, Quentin, to take over.

Quentin is 42, a successful psychiatrist, and yes he’s hot. Think: well-dressed, mature, intelligent, kind, emotionally stable… all wrapped up in muscle and quiet charm. What really stood out to me is that he’s never cruel or condescending. He treats Cordelia with respect, even when their situation is awkward or emotionally charged.

As roommates, Quentin and Cordelia slowly build a friendship rooted in shared experiences and quiet understanding. While she’s still navigating fresh grief, Quentin has already endured his own loss his ex-wife died in an accident after their marriage had already fallen apart due to infidelity. By the time we meet him, he’s processed his trauma and is in a healthy, stable place emotionally, which makes their dynamic feel safer and more grounded despite the age gap.

What I appreciated most is that their connection grows gradually. There’s no forced drama or messy love triangles just two people finding solace and eventually love in each other. The romance builds naturally, with real emotional depth. There’s some angst, but it’s internal and well-paced.

Cordelia was a standout for me. She’s mature and thoughtful without being too unrealistic for her age. Her calm, down-to-earth demeanor made it much easier to root for the relationship despite the taboo elements.

All in all, this was a quick, emotionally satisfying read with a solid HEA. If you enjoy slow-burn, age-gap romances with real emotional stakes and no over-the-top drama, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a slow burn but so much better because of it!

Don’t get me wrong, Daisy can do a s3x scene that is so hot it is off the charts. But filling this book with smut would devalue and cheapen the beauty of it.

The character development of Quinten and Cordy, as well as the relationship between them is so vividly depicted, you almost feel inserted into the story. Their pain is heartfelt, I truly ached at Cordy’s accident and cried at how she was essentially left to float on her own. It wasn’t until well after she began living with Quinten that she was able to eventually start to heal and by extension, he as well. How they both come to deal with and overcome their past trauma is uplifting. I was genuinely hoping for the HEA at the end.

I have read almost every book of Daisy’s after my first experience with her (Where Violets Bloom), and I have to say that this may be one of my favorites, if not the top!