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A Little Kissing Between Friends
Music producer on the rise Cyn Tha Starr knows what she likes, from her sickening beats in the studio to the flirty femmes she fools around with. Her ever-rotating roster has never been a problem until her latest fling clashes with Jucee, her best friend and the most popular dancer at strip club Sanity.
It makes Cyn see Jucee in a different light. One with far fewer boundaries and a lot more kissing.
Juleesa Jones makes great money dancing the early shift and spends most evenings with her son, her Sanity family or at Cyn’s house. Relationships are not high on the priority list—until she’s forced to admit that maybe friendship isn’t the only thing she wants from her bestie.
But hooking up with your ride-or-die is risky. Jucee isn’t just Cyn’s best friend—Jucee is her muse. When Cyn lays down her bars, it’s Jucee she imagines in the club throwing it back to every note. If they aren’t careful, this could crash and burn…but isn’t real love worth it?
It makes Cyn see Jucee in a different light. One with far fewer boundaries and a lot more kissing.
Juleesa Jones makes great money dancing the early shift and spends most evenings with her son, her Sanity family or at Cyn’s house. Relationships are not high on the priority list—until she’s forced to admit that maybe friendship isn’t the only thing she wants from her bestie.
But hooking up with your ride-or-die is risky. Jucee isn’t just Cyn’s best friend—Jucee is her muse. When Cyn lays down her bars, it’s Jucee she imagines in the club throwing it back to every note. If they aren’t careful, this could crash and burn…but isn’t real love worth it?
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2024
143 people are currently reading
9564 people want to read
About the author
Chencia C. Higgins
38 books502 followersChencia C. Higgins is just a girl from Texas who has made it her mission to create stories in which sassy, southern Black women are loved out loud. Her Carina Adores debut, D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, was a New York Times best romance of 2022. When she isn't hunkered down in her writing cave, Chencia can be found with her nose in a book, saving recipes on Pinterest for things she’ll never make, and dreaming about travelling even further south for the winter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
January 28, 2024
After really LOVING D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding I had really high hopes for this one and most of those expectations were met.
We've got two badass Black sapphic MCs, one a fat lesbian stud and one a midsize bisexual femme. They've been best friends for three years and their friendship is unmatched. That energy had me fucking cheesin for the first 40% of this book. Like I was stupid grinning for the first half. I loved it.
I love the way Cyn talks about music and Jucee and I especially loved the way Jucee loved on her son Amani and talked about food. I swear if some of those restaurants aren't already real things, they definitely should be.
Cyn is a Grammy winning music producer and Jucee is an exotic dancer.
When one night their friendship energy turned sexual, things got a little rocky. Neither one wanted to risk their friendship for a little sex.
While I still really enjoyed this whole book, I do feel like some things were missed. I don't hate the miscommunication trope but it's not my favorite either and a ton of this could've been solved if they just actually said what they meant instead of expecting the other to read their mind.
I'm gonna withhold any detailed spoilers or any of my other thoughts for now and will add on when I do a reread after it's released.
What I will say is that this one should definitely be on your radar, especially if you're into friends to lovers. The representation is also unmatched since I know a lot of y'all got bingo cards to fill up.
It's rare for me to read a digital book in it's entirety so quickly and that is always a good sign for me. I finished this one in about 24 hours. I literally couldn't stop. I would try and do something else and then come back for just one more chapter. Jucee and Cyn are both strong emotional women with lots of feelings even if they try to hide some of them and I really genuinely enjoyed their story.
I'll 100% be doing a reread via audio when this releases. Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own. 4.5 stars
We've got two badass Black sapphic MCs, one a fat lesbian stud and one a midsize bisexual femme. They've been best friends for three years and their friendship is unmatched. That energy had me fucking cheesin for the first 40% of this book. Like I was stupid grinning for the first half. I loved it.
I love the way Cyn talks about music and Jucee and I especially loved the way Jucee loved on her son Amani and talked about food. I swear if some of those restaurants aren't already real things, they definitely should be.
Cyn is a Grammy winning music producer and Jucee is an exotic dancer.
When one night their friendship energy turned sexual, things got a little rocky. Neither one wanted to risk their friendship for a little sex.
While I still really enjoyed this whole book, I do feel like some things were missed. I don't hate the miscommunication trope but it's not my favorite either and a ton of this could've been solved if they just actually said what they meant instead of expecting the other to read their mind.
I'm gonna withhold any detailed spoilers or any of my other thoughts for now and will add on when I do a reread after it's released.
What I will say is that this one should definitely be on your radar, especially if you're into friends to lovers. The representation is also unmatched since I know a lot of y'all got bingo cards to fill up.
It's rare for me to read a digital book in it's entirety so quickly and that is always a good sign for me. I finished this one in about 24 hours. I literally couldn't stop. I would try and do something else and then come back for just one more chapter. Jucee and Cyn are both strong emotional women with lots of feelings even if they try to hide some of them and I really genuinely enjoyed their story.
I'll 100% be doing a reread via audio when this releases. Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own. 4.5 stars
August 15, 2025
The best part about this book was Cyn's family love for Juleesa, we love a supportive and emotionally intelligent family. The worst part of this book was Cyn, that woman got on my nerves, as much as I loved Kris from D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding for being earnest and open I was annoyed with Cyn's immature nonsense.
April 4, 2024
There was a lot I really appreciated about this book. It was great getting to see a romance between two Black women, especially with one of them being a stud. That isn’t something that I’ve personally encountered a lot of in books. I also thought Cyn being a music producer and Jucee being a dancer at a strip club added a lot of interesting atmosphere to the story. There was also excellent chemistry in the steamy scenes. I enjoyed how Cyn and Jucee had one of those friendships where everyone around them assumed that they were already together or already in love.
Where the book lost me a tiny bit was that I didn’t feel like I totally understood where Cyn and Jucee were starting off in regards to their friendship. I think I just wanted to know a bit more about their background and how things started out before getting into them having sexual and romantic feelings for one another. I also got a bit overwhelmed with how many side characters there were. The book is pretty low plot, it’s mostly just them going back and forth between being friends, hooking up, having miscommunications, and repeat. I generally like there to be a bit more going on in the romance books that I read outside of the relationship itself.
But even though I have some complaints, I still had a nice time reading this book. I think people who really enjoy low plot sapphic romances should give this one a shot.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Where the book lost me a tiny bit was that I didn’t feel like I totally understood where Cyn and Jucee were starting off in regards to their friendship. I think I just wanted to know a bit more about their background and how things started out before getting into them having sexual and romantic feelings for one another. I also got a bit overwhelmed with how many side characters there were. The book is pretty low plot, it’s mostly just them going back and forth between being friends, hooking up, having miscommunications, and repeat. I generally like there to be a bit more going on in the romance books that I read outside of the relationship itself.
But even though I have some complaints, I still had a nice time reading this book. I think people who really enjoy low plot sapphic romances should give this one a shot.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2024
4.5 Stars :)
Cyn Tha Starr is no stranger to beautiful women as a successful music producer. And with her career taking up most of her time she’s elected to keep her circle small. Who needs a relationship when you have your dream job and an endless rotation of groupies? But when a night out with her best friend Jucee takes a flirtatious turn she realizes her feelings may be more than platonic. Does Cyn have what it takes to commit, or will she sabotage her first chance at real love?
Juleesa Jones is one of the top dancers in Houston with a fiery personality and a body to match. Not to mention she’s just as confident off the stage as she supports her son and friends with enough unconditional love to fill the city. But when she makes a move on her best friend Cyn she’s stuck reeling. Is what they have enough to make it romantically? Or will Jucee be left picking up the pieces of her heart? Commitment issues and community have met their match in, A Little Kissing Between Friends.
I binged this in a day it was so fun. A vibes fueled friends to lovers featuring themes of family, trust, communication, sex, and body positivity. With a Black mid-size femme bisexual single mother and a Black fat masc lesbian as main characters. Talk about underrepresented characters in queer, contemporary romance. Truly another win for the sapphics by Chencia C. Higgins. And spice!!!!! If you are a person who loves masc x femme spice then you will be so happy.
Cyn is one of the most authentic masc characters I have ever read. I expected her to be well-written since Kris from D’vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding was such a solid character but Chencia has truly outdone herself. She was masculine in her style and mannerisms but didn’t overcompensate with toxic masculinity. She was a genuine butch lesbian which is hard to find in the media since they operate so explicitly outside the male gaze that they are excluded and written off. So to read a character like Cyn who is largely respected and well known in the music industry is refreshing. Not to mention her being a switch!! I don’t want to spoil the spicy scenes but if you’re a sucker for butches bottoming (me) then you’ll enjoy yourself. Cyn is also sober which is amazing because I never see sober characters in romances.
Jucee was such a complex and fun character to read as well. She is one of the best representations of femme bisexuals I’ve ever read and the most sex-positive character. Her confidence in her sexuality and work is a highlight of the story. No one batted an eye at her career and encouraged her to excel. It was never used as a diss or drag, especially towards her as a mother. She was just shown as a working parent who provided handsomely for her child and was supported by her community. Plus her relationship with Cyn’s family made me tear up at multiple points. It was a genuine and heartfelt connection that anchored the whole story together. Honestly, that family deserves the entire world.
Now if you are the type of reader that needs high stakes and a rigidly structured plot you may not be the biggest fan. This book is 1000000% character-driven. The entire time Cyn and Jucee are just trying to get their ish together and figure out what they want from themselves and each other. Which I love because it feels so authentic. Real-life love stories aren’t out here with a seven-point plot outline. They are messy and full of back and forth. However, I am not normally a fan of the miscommunication trope, which is a key point in the story. I’ll admit it is why I didn’t give this book 5 stars because it was exasperating at times. But overall it did make sense for these characters and their love story. So, although it was a bit much at times it was done well and didn’t take me out of the book.
All in all, this heartwarming, spicy, and family-centered romance is a must-read! From the sexy club scenes to the hunger-inducing BBQs you’ll go from sad tears to frustrated tears back to happy tears. All while your stomach growls from how mouth-watering all the food sounds. Not to mention mad you can’t stream Cyn’s latest hit on Spotify. If you like romances that are vibes-driven with uniquely diverse characters and enough sexual tension to fill a room then you’re in the right place. Happy reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, Goodreads, and Tiktok
Cyn Tha Starr is no stranger to beautiful women as a successful music producer. And with her career taking up most of her time she’s elected to keep her circle small. Who needs a relationship when you have your dream job and an endless rotation of groupies? But when a night out with her best friend Jucee takes a flirtatious turn she realizes her feelings may be more than platonic. Does Cyn have what it takes to commit, or will she sabotage her first chance at real love?
Juleesa Jones is one of the top dancers in Houston with a fiery personality and a body to match. Not to mention she’s just as confident off the stage as she supports her son and friends with enough unconditional love to fill the city. But when she makes a move on her best friend Cyn she’s stuck reeling. Is what they have enough to make it romantically? Or will Jucee be left picking up the pieces of her heart? Commitment issues and community have met their match in, A Little Kissing Between Friends.
I binged this in a day it was so fun. A vibes fueled friends to lovers featuring themes of family, trust, communication, sex, and body positivity. With a Black mid-size femme bisexual single mother and a Black fat masc lesbian as main characters. Talk about underrepresented characters in queer, contemporary romance. Truly another win for the sapphics by Chencia C. Higgins. And spice!!!!! If you are a person who loves masc x femme spice then you will be so happy.
Cyn is one of the most authentic masc characters I have ever read. I expected her to be well-written since Kris from D’vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding was such a solid character but Chencia has truly outdone herself. She was masculine in her style and mannerisms but didn’t overcompensate with toxic masculinity. She was a genuine butch lesbian which is hard to find in the media since they operate so explicitly outside the male gaze that they are excluded and written off. So to read a character like Cyn who is largely respected and well known in the music industry is refreshing. Not to mention her being a switch!! I don’t want to spoil the spicy scenes but if you’re a sucker for butches bottoming (me) then you’ll enjoy yourself. Cyn is also sober which is amazing because I never see sober characters in romances.
Jucee was such a complex and fun character to read as well. She is one of the best representations of femme bisexuals I’ve ever read and the most sex-positive character. Her confidence in her sexuality and work is a highlight of the story. No one batted an eye at her career and encouraged her to excel. It was never used as a diss or drag, especially towards her as a mother. She was just shown as a working parent who provided handsomely for her child and was supported by her community. Plus her relationship with Cyn’s family made me tear up at multiple points. It was a genuine and heartfelt connection that anchored the whole story together. Honestly, that family deserves the entire world.
Now if you are the type of reader that needs high stakes and a rigidly structured plot you may not be the biggest fan. This book is 1000000% character-driven. The entire time Cyn and Jucee are just trying to get their ish together and figure out what they want from themselves and each other. Which I love because it feels so authentic. Real-life love stories aren’t out here with a seven-point plot outline. They are messy and full of back and forth. However, I am not normally a fan of the miscommunication trope, which is a key point in the story. I’ll admit it is why I didn’t give this book 5 stars because it was exasperating at times. But overall it did make sense for these characters and their love story. So, although it was a bit much at times it was done well and didn’t take me out of the book.
All in all, this heartwarming, spicy, and family-centered romance is a must-read! From the sexy club scenes to the hunger-inducing BBQs you’ll go from sad tears to frustrated tears back to happy tears. All while your stomach growls from how mouth-watering all the food sounds. Not to mention mad you can’t stream Cyn’s latest hit on Spotify. If you like romances that are vibes-driven with uniquely diverse characters and enough sexual tension to fill a room then you’re in the right place. Happy reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, Goodreads, and Tiktok
December 2, 2025
I was already going to put in work, but now I wanted to give Poppa brain so good she called my mama begging for my diplomas.
2.5 stars. It wasn't bad; I liked parts of it. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes! But the third act conflicts were so deeply Not For Me, I felt myself losing interest rapidly when it came up. This was the exact type of miscommunications/inability to have a conversation that did not seem organic. It was just silly and frustrating. Meh.
And honestly, now that it's time to write a review, I find myself not having that much to say? Cyn works in the music industry, Jucee works at a popular strip club, and they've been best friends for years. Until one night, a little random jealousy pushes things in another direction, and they end up succumbing to feelings they almost didn't know they had. It's a good setup; I don't mind that it's been done before. And I don't mind that we start the book with an already established and very close friendship. I think the author did a good job of building up their history, giving us a good sense of why they made such good friends, and giving us hints about the attraction between them, teasing out the things to come. The writing was good, if not great. I definitely judge trad pub books harder than I do indie books, and this did not read as if it had been professionally edited. They did the author a disservice. But it was still fun, sexy, brimming with chemistry. Lots of little quips and one liners that made me giggle and feel at home. There's not a lot of stud representation in trad pub sapphic books, and I love how unapologetically big and butch Cyn is. This had some nice found family vibes, and I liked Jucee's relationship with Cyn's family, and the fact that she had a healthy relationship with her ex. I wish we'd seen more of Jucee's son and Cyn together! I don't really like reading about celebrity or fame in books, but the parts of this that talked about the music industry were pretty interesting.
But like I said, this REALLY lost me when it came to the conflicts. I don't even want to get into it; I can feel myself getting kinda annoyed all over again, lol. I've said it before and I'll say it again: miscommunication or misunderstanding isn't an inherently bad trope in romance. It's something that happens in real life, and if done well, seeing characters go through it and come out the other side can make a relationship seem really strong. But oftentimes, miscommunication is just stupid and overblown, and that was the case here. I did not enjoy it. There were other things about the writing I didn't love, like the author's tendency to over-describe food and clothing. I LOVE description, and I usually want a lot of scene-setting in my books, but here, I often found it unnecessary and distracting. Coming down to the end, I found it harder to remember all the cute and hot things I liked about the book, because the annoying things were so prevalent.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lauryn Nichols and J. Shani Michaels and it was okay, but not my favourite. Several mispronunciations (at least, it sounded that way to my ear) and something about the pacing was off at times. But it wasn't a bad listen, and it wasn't a bad book. Definitely not a fave, alas.
May 28, 2024
“Our mouths seemed to fit like the most important pieces of a heart-shaped puzzle.”
I received an eARC of A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C Higgins from Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts!
🎵 Cyn Tha Starr has a successful music career that has led her to fame and fortune and a rotating door of beautiful women. Jucee is a single mother who has taken a break from dating to focus on taking care of her son all while being one of the most popular dancers a prominent strip club. Jucee and Cyn have been friends for years, but when they start to see each other in a new light will their friendship be able to survive their attraction? 🎵
I have gushed about D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding so many times that I was thrilled when I got my hands on an arc for Higgins new book - A Little Kissing Between Friends. Unfortunately I ended up barely being able to make my way through this one.
Before I talk about what I didn’t like, let’s focus on what this book did well - the representation.
Cyn and Jucee are both Black, Cyn being a lesbian and Jucee being bisexual. There is an interesting dynamic referenced a few times - Cyn coming from a very accepting family, and Jucee not. Both women are queer, but have had different experiences within their queer identities. There are other queer characters, and a lot of great references to building a community which I loved.
The rest of the books though? I was just not a fan. There will likely be some light spoilers from here on out - so be wary of that!
My first major complaint is that Cyn and Jucee’s relationship seemed to just change out of nowhere. There was nothing that seemed to lend itself to their feelings morphing from platonic to sexual and romantic, so I had a hard time believing in their romance.
The next complaint I have is that Cyn and Jucee both felt underdeveloped outside of their relationship with one another. Jucee is constantly mentioning that her son is everything to her, but for most of the book he’s never at home with her. I felt like more interaction between Jucee and her son would’ve helped to round out her character a bit more. Similarly, Cyn’s music career felt nonexistent. Yes, she spent time in the studio but it usually seemed to be only to create a scene for Jucee to bring her a meal. Outside of that it seemed pointless for her to be there.
I feel like I could have ignored all of that if I’d actually believed that Cyn and Jucee were in love…but I just didn’t. From the get go there are awkward moments of jealousy and possessiveness, but those emotions didn’t seem to be coming from anywhere. The arguing and the angst didn’t feel tantalizing or rewarding as I read - it just felt painful and boring.
So, yeah. This one didn’t work for me. I think it needed a lot more time developing the characters rather than a vague situation, because there’s a good story hidden in there somewhere. I just had a hard time finding it.
2/5 stars
I received an eARC of A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C Higgins from Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts!
🎵 Cyn Tha Starr has a successful music career that has led her to fame and fortune and a rotating door of beautiful women. Jucee is a single mother who has taken a break from dating to focus on taking care of her son all while being one of the most popular dancers a prominent strip club. Jucee and Cyn have been friends for years, but when they start to see each other in a new light will their friendship be able to survive their attraction? 🎵
I have gushed about D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding so many times that I was thrilled when I got my hands on an arc for Higgins new book - A Little Kissing Between Friends. Unfortunately I ended up barely being able to make my way through this one.
Before I talk about what I didn’t like, let’s focus on what this book did well - the representation.
Cyn and Jucee are both Black, Cyn being a lesbian and Jucee being bisexual. There is an interesting dynamic referenced a few times - Cyn coming from a very accepting family, and Jucee not. Both women are queer, but have had different experiences within their queer identities. There are other queer characters, and a lot of great references to building a community which I loved.
The rest of the books though? I was just not a fan. There will likely be some light spoilers from here on out - so be wary of that!
My first major complaint is that Cyn and Jucee’s relationship seemed to just change out of nowhere. There was nothing that seemed to lend itself to their feelings morphing from platonic to sexual and romantic, so I had a hard time believing in their romance.
The next complaint I have is that Cyn and Jucee both felt underdeveloped outside of their relationship with one another. Jucee is constantly mentioning that her son is everything to her, but for most of the book he’s never at home with her. I felt like more interaction between Jucee and her son would’ve helped to round out her character a bit more. Similarly, Cyn’s music career felt nonexistent. Yes, she spent time in the studio but it usually seemed to be only to create a scene for Jucee to bring her a meal. Outside of that it seemed pointless for her to be there.
I feel like I could have ignored all of that if I’d actually believed that Cyn and Jucee were in love…but I just didn’t. From the get go there are awkward moments of jealousy and possessiveness, but those emotions didn’t seem to be coming from anywhere. The arguing and the angst didn’t feel tantalizing or rewarding as I read - it just felt painful and boring.
So, yeah. This one didn’t work for me. I think it needed a lot more time developing the characters rather than a vague situation, because there’s a good story hidden in there somewhere. I just had a hard time finding it.
2/5 stars
June 13, 2024
It's been a while, but I have continued my tradition of accidentally listening to my steamiest reads while in the office. Whoops!
But no regrets, really. Higgins writes a great romance. This one specifically is WLW and set in a queer, Black community in Houston. Really strong character work, and friends-to-lovers is so hard to pull off for me. 4 stars.
But no regrets, really. Higgins writes a great romance. This one specifically is WLW and set in a queer, Black community in Houston. Really strong character work, and friends-to-lovers is so hard to pull off for me. 4 stars.
October 24, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
Steamy friends-to-lovers sapphic romance with plus size characters and a sex worker character! This was great. A Little Kissing Between Friends is such a well-done version of friends to lovers with mature characters with a long history. Cyn is a butch lesbian music producer who really gets around but never commits. Juleesa, one of her best friends, is a talented, bisexual dancer at a strip club and a single parent. But when things heat up between them everything gets messy and might threaten their friendship. Really enjoyed this! I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
Steamy friends-to-lovers sapphic romance with plus size characters and a sex worker character! This was great. A Little Kissing Between Friends is such a well-done version of friends to lovers with mature characters with a long history. Cyn is a butch lesbian music producer who really gets around but never commits. Juleesa, one of her best friends, is a talented, bisexual dancer at a strip club and a single parent. But when things heat up between them everything gets messy and might threaten their friendship. Really enjoyed this! I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
June 8, 2024
I LOVED Dvaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding, so being hyped for this FRIENDS TO LOVERS book by the same author was an understatement! However, this book fell short for me because of major miscommunication between supposed best friends, the biphobic comment during a heated argument, and the lack of seeing Jucee as a mom though it’s repeatedly mentioned a lot. I did however, enjoy the black and fat rep of this book SO much especially with a fat body sex work rep! Overall, I’d still recommend this one, it just wasn’t my favorite!
June 19, 2024
At the beginning of this book I was absolutely LOVING it! It was looking like a 5 star read. I loved the characters, the chemistry, the tension, and everything. But, it eventually started going downhill for me. All they really did was have sex and hurt each other’s feelings. That’s not love to me. I loved Cyn at first, but the way she repeatedly hurt Juccee was unacceptable to me. If she had done one or two things, okay, but she repeatedly disregarded Juccee’s feelings and I didn’t like that. I feel like Cyn was only in lust, not love. I really think Juccee deserves better. Plus the ending really dragged for me. I think the end could’ve been about 20-30 pages shorter.
3 stars, mostly because of how good this started off.
3 stars, mostly because of how good this started off.
January 25, 2025
I enjoyed the book, but lost interest in the romance towards the end.
I really enjoyed the writing, the pacing and the vibes of this book- I thought there were cool characters and I really enjoyed the way they were expanded through some flashbacks and explorations of their younger years. I thought the characters were unique and strong, with very distinct personalities and interesting life stories. However, as the book progressed and the two fell into a spiral of miscommunications I did start loosing interest in the couple.
This book is about two grown adults, however they seem to be participating in some high school level drama when it comes to exploring their relationship. I hated all the jumping to conclusions, the weird resistance to admitting feelings and their love for leaving a situation without hearing anyone out or bothering to explain what just happened. These two needed to TALK.
Also why was Jucee not looking after her son for most of this book! I felt like being a good mom was part of her character but when the relationship drama started unfolding he was never actually under her care? That was a bit odd. I really like sapphic romances where there’s a kid, especially when their mom has had a rough time of it but then finally gets the happy ending they deserve and lives their happy life with their little family- however because Amani isn’t integrated that well into the story I’m not sure if I liked him being there at all. He was cute and all, but it didn’t add much (especially because his mother acting immature feels worse when you think about the fact that she’s in charge of a whole other human).
All in all, I liked the characters as friends and as separate humans but not as a couple. I love friends to lovers, but these two were better off as friends.
I really enjoyed the writing, the pacing and the vibes of this book- I thought there were cool characters and I really enjoyed the way they were expanded through some flashbacks and explorations of their younger years. I thought the characters were unique and strong, with very distinct personalities and interesting life stories. However, as the book progressed and the two fell into a spiral of miscommunications I did start loosing interest in the couple.
This book is about two grown adults, however they seem to be participating in some high school level drama when it comes to exploring their relationship. I hated all the jumping to conclusions, the weird resistance to admitting feelings and their love for leaving a situation without hearing anyone out or bothering to explain what just happened. These two needed to TALK.
Also why was Jucee not looking after her son for most of this book! I felt like being a good mom was part of her character but when the relationship drama started unfolding he was never actually under her care? That was a bit odd. I really like sapphic romances where there’s a kid, especially when their mom has had a rough time of it but then finally gets the happy ending they deserve and lives their happy life with their little family- however because Amani isn’t integrated that well into the story I’m not sure if I liked him being there at all. He was cute and all, but it didn’t add much (especially because his mother acting immature feels worse when you think about the fact that she’s in charge of a whole other human).
All in all, I liked the characters as friends and as separate humans but not as a couple. I love friends to lovers, but these two were better off as friends.
June 7, 2024
Whew, this was sexy as hell!
June 4, 2024
This book follows Cyn Tha Starr, a successful music producer who is sought after by many beautiful women, and Jucee's, her best friend, who works at a prominent strip club. They have been friends for years, but when they begin to explore their attraction to one another, their friendship is tested.
The beginning of this book started off so strong, and I loved it. If you have watched P-Valley, that is exactly what it reminded me of. With this aspect also came the amazing queer representation, and with that representation, you are also seeing the supportive community that they have around them. However, this was not enough for me to overlook all of the issues that the novel presented.
All in all, this book was extremely childish. Cyn was horrible to Jucee in every way, and because of this, I did not find the romance believable at all. In my opinion, they had no romantic connection besides their sexual relationship. Also, the third-act conflict was so aggravating to me that I almost DNF'd at the 80% mark. Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. Especially being a huge fan of Higgins' previous novel.
The beginning of this book started off so strong, and I loved it. If you have watched P-Valley, that is exactly what it reminded me of. With this aspect also came the amazing queer representation, and with that representation, you are also seeing the supportive community that they have around them. However, this was not enough for me to overlook all of the issues that the novel presented.
All in all, this book was extremely childish. Cyn was horrible to Jucee in every way, and because of this, I did not find the romance believable at all. In my opinion, they had no romantic connection besides their sexual relationship. Also, the third-act conflict was so aggravating to me that I almost DNF'd at the 80% mark. Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. Especially being a huge fan of Higgins' previous novel.
June 13, 2024
3.5 really. This was cute and hot and fun, and I really enjoy Higgins’ voice. Some of those lines were outright hilarious, like Cyn’s inability to not be horrified by that girl’s laugh, and Jucee saying, “It was amazing how a little motorboating could lift your spirits,” LMAOOOO WHAT!
But the poor communication/miscommunication was…oof!!!! I am very impatient and have VERY low tolerance for miscommunication, so Cyn’s behavior was a HUGE issue for me. I mean, just from a plot standpoint, she was messy lmao but I just can’t with the lack of talking. The will they, won’t they, figure it out was fun. Cyn’s inability to string a simple sentence together so Jucee could understand how she felt? Not so much.
Regardless, there is a LOT of heart here and I heavily recommend it. Where it was good, it was GREAT! Found family, respect for sex work, and the realization that you’ve found true community was lovely, and I will definitely be reading more of Higgins’ work for sure.
Love Black women loving Black women.
But the poor communication/miscommunication was…oof!!!! I am very impatient and have VERY low tolerance for miscommunication, so Cyn’s behavior was a HUGE issue for me. I mean, just from a plot standpoint, she was messy lmao but I just can’t with the lack of talking. The will they, won’t they, figure it out was fun. Cyn’s inability to string a simple sentence together so Jucee could understand how she felt? Not so much.
Regardless, there is a LOT of heart here and I heavily recommend it. Where it was good, it was GREAT! Found family, respect for sex work, and the realization that you’ve found true community was lovely, and I will definitely be reading more of Higgins’ work for sure.
Love Black women loving Black women.
June 12, 2024
*2.5
I love Davaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding, so I was looking forward to this book and it was such a disappointment. To start off I didn't understand where Jucee and Cyn's relationship was at the beginning of the book. In both pov's they talked about how the touching they were doing wasn't normal and I think as a reader it should have started before they got romantic feelings for one another. The timeline was also confusing because at one point they both agreed that they wanted to be more but it felt like it was forgotten almost as soon as it started. The main thing I can't get over is how Cyn was biphobic to Jucee and I don't feel like her apology was good enough. I know that I certainly couldn'y get over it. The last thing is fully personal but I can't stand that Jucee calls her Poppa. I can deal with it if it's just during sex but that is simply her name for Cyn.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I love Davaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding, so I was looking forward to this book and it was such a disappointment. To start off I didn't understand where Jucee and Cyn's relationship was at the beginning of the book. In both pov's they talked about how the touching they were doing wasn't normal and I think as a reader it should have started before they got romantic feelings for one another. The timeline was also confusing because at one point they both agreed that they wanted to be more but it felt like it was forgotten almost as soon as it started. The main thing I can't get over is how Cyn was biphobic to Jucee and I don't feel like her apology was good enough. I know that I certainly couldn'y get over it. The last thing is fully personal but I can't stand that Jucee calls her Poppa. I can deal with it if it's just during sex but that is simply her name for Cyn.
I received an arc through netgalley.
February 10, 2025
“She wasn’t just my best friend, she was my heart.”
Friends to lovers romances are so wonderful to read to me. There’s just something so powerful about taking that step from friends to “more than”, that just adds SO much tension and yearning. On top of this dynamic you have phenomenal representation (a fat lesbian stud & a midsize bisexual femme), navigating bi-phobia, & an overall theme of being pro sex work since Jucee is an exotic dancer.
My one and only complaint is very minor, but I feel two people who are as close of friends as these two are, they would be better at communicating. 🤷
Still a very cute and fun read though! I definitely recommend it, I flew through this I having so much fun haha.
Friends to lovers romances are so wonderful to read to me. There’s just something so powerful about taking that step from friends to “more than”, that just adds SO much tension and yearning. On top of this dynamic you have phenomenal representation (a fat lesbian stud & a midsize bisexual femme), navigating bi-phobia, & an overall theme of being pro sex work since Jucee is an exotic dancer.
My one and only complaint is very minor, but I feel two people who are as close of friends as these two are, they would be better at communicating. 🤷
Still a very cute and fun read though! I definitely recommend it, I flew through this I having so much fun haha.
June 16, 2024
Okay that’s it, I need a book from Chencia Higgins each year!!! Around this time in 2023, I read D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding , an earlier romance novel from this author. It was just the sort of fun, snappy, and steamy book that I saw being published constantly for nearly other romantic pairing (BW in straight relationships, BW in interracial relationships, etc.), but not for the Black sapphic group. When I heard she’d have another sapphic romance book coming out in 2024, I was so excited to have another chance to read about her characters!
How this book is different
While fans of D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding will surely appreciate A Little Kissing Between Friends, it’s by no means a carbon copy of the earlier book. This time around, Chencia Higgins is doing something that’s steamier, thornier, but also more reflective. This love interests’ relationship arc seems to be less “friends to lovers” and more friends to crushes in denial to sneaky links to jealous frenemies to lovers. This makes for a surprising number of twists and turns in what otherwise would be a pretty straightforward story. Like I noted in her earlier work, Higgins is not someone who will annoy her readers by coming up with a nonsense reason for the characters to almost break up before finally coming back together. She’s a creative and thoughtful author who can come up with compelling reasons for why it takes a minute for her characters to find their way to each other. This makes the final reunification even more delicious, because it feels earned and not contrived!
We love a romance novel that resists amatonormativity!
I was particularly surprised by this book’s focus on how the concepts of found family, care networks, and community building impact romance. One of my asexual role models and favorite writers, Sherronda J. Brown, has written about how our societal hierarchies often prioritize romantic relationships to the detriment of platonic relationships with friends, family, and community members. My friends and I talk about this a lot, as we are trying and often failing to balance family commitments, roles in community organizations, polycule dynamics, and work obligations. Managing all of these sorts of relationships can be such a challenge, but when I read many romance novels, it requires me to suspend my disbelief, and operate in a fantasy world where someone’s work life, political life, and friend/family life all pale in comparison to them finding “their person.”
In A Little Kissing Between Friends, no such delusion exists. One of the main characters struggles with her need for stable community after a childhood marked by parental neglect. Instead of providing a romance plot where this character must lose sight of the other meaningful relationships she needs to feel whole, Higgins has written a romance novel with a thoughtful discussion of how you can’t feel safe in romantic love if that love is “all you have.” Instead of leaning into the “us against the world” romance tropes, Higgins’ characters are surrounded by fleshed-out friends and family members that support the advancement of their relationship, but also exist outside of it. One of the most touching moments was Cindy’s family’s embrace of Jalisa not just as a potential love interest for their daughter, but as a permanent member of their community they were committed to showing up for. The family’s provision of childcare support, curation of a warm social environment, and judgment-free acceptance of Jalisa’s career all made me grin from ear to ear!!! THESE are the ethics of interdependence I want to see even in silly romance books!!!
She gives the people what they came for...
Chencia Higgins is an incredibly gifted erotica writer, and even with the slow burn to full romance, you will not have to go long before finding “material” in this book. I especially enjoyed the reciprocity in these sex scenes, given that this book is a rare example of a Black lesbian romance where the characters have somewhat firmly established gender roles (literally, one character’s main nickname for the other is “Papa” aS fRiEnDs.) Even with those roles, this is not a touch me not story where you can barely tell if the femme is interested in their partner. As an asexual person, I obviously do not see anything wrong with someone refusing sex on either side—giving or receiving. However, I believe there is truly something evil afoot when so many of our fictional stories about lesbians lay out these imbalanced dynamics where the femme partner is the center of attention, and the masc partner simply “lives to please.”
In the case of fiction, this is not an individual person sharing their preference to give and not receive—this is a troubling societal indicator of how we bring internalized homophobia and desirability politics into the bedroom. Thankfully, A Little Kissing Between Friends is a shining example where the stud is cast as sexually attractive for more than what she can do to someone else, and the femme partner is deeply interested and excited about being in the “giving” role. On these scenes, I have no notes, just my compliments to the author!
I'd skip the audiobook (minor dialogue gripes)
My final comment is that I think I would’ve preferred the regular book instead of the audiobook. I did like the novelty of having two different narrators for the two different POV characters, as I hadn’t seen that done before. Unfortunately though, I think some of the dialogue just did not hold up well when read aloud, where usually I can suspend disbelief when reading bad dialogue on the page. Even when I understand what Higgins was trying to do, the poor execution of certain conversations between characters really struck me in the audiobook format. Scenes between Cindy and her family came across as annoying and meddlesome when I knew they should’ve seemed really sweet and comforting. I try not to fault authors who have many talents for not having other specific skills. And so, I will simply recommend the written format for this book, and look forward to Higgins’ continued growth as a conversational writer.
Closing Recommendation
Read this, read this, read this!!! If you like romance novels and you’re a Black lesbian, there will be few better ones coming out this year (or probably even next.) There are some touching points about the broader world beyond romantic relationships, and DELIGHTFUL sex scenes. Enjoy and support this lady so we can get even more books from her in the future!!!
How this book is different
While fans of D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding will surely appreciate A Little Kissing Between Friends, it’s by no means a carbon copy of the earlier book. This time around, Chencia Higgins is doing something that’s steamier, thornier, but also more reflective. This love interests’ relationship arc seems to be less “friends to lovers” and more friends to crushes in denial to sneaky links to jealous frenemies to lovers. This makes for a surprising number of twists and turns in what otherwise would be a pretty straightforward story. Like I noted in her earlier work, Higgins is not someone who will annoy her readers by coming up with a nonsense reason for the characters to almost break up before finally coming back together. She’s a creative and thoughtful author who can come up with compelling reasons for why it takes a minute for her characters to find their way to each other. This makes the final reunification even more delicious, because it feels earned and not contrived!
We love a romance novel that resists amatonormativity!
I was particularly surprised by this book’s focus on how the concepts of found family, care networks, and community building impact romance. One of my asexual role models and favorite writers, Sherronda J. Brown, has written about how our societal hierarchies often prioritize romantic relationships to the detriment of platonic relationships with friends, family, and community members. My friends and I talk about this a lot, as we are trying and often failing to balance family commitments, roles in community organizations, polycule dynamics, and work obligations. Managing all of these sorts of relationships can be such a challenge, but when I read many romance novels, it requires me to suspend my disbelief, and operate in a fantasy world where someone’s work life, political life, and friend/family life all pale in comparison to them finding “their person.”
In A Little Kissing Between Friends, no such delusion exists. One of the main characters struggles with her need for stable community after a childhood marked by parental neglect. Instead of providing a romance plot where this character must lose sight of the other meaningful relationships she needs to feel whole, Higgins has written a romance novel with a thoughtful discussion of how you can’t feel safe in romantic love if that love is “all you have.” Instead of leaning into the “us against the world” romance tropes, Higgins’ characters are surrounded by fleshed-out friends and family members that support the advancement of their relationship, but also exist outside of it. One of the most touching moments was Cindy’s family’s embrace of Jalisa not just as a potential love interest for their daughter, but as a permanent member of their community they were committed to showing up for. The family’s provision of childcare support, curation of a warm social environment, and judgment-free acceptance of Jalisa’s career all made me grin from ear to ear!!! THESE are the ethics of interdependence I want to see even in silly romance books!!!
She gives the people what they came for...
Chencia Higgins is an incredibly gifted erotica writer, and even with the slow burn to full romance, you will not have to go long before finding “material” in this book. I especially enjoyed the reciprocity in these sex scenes, given that this book is a rare example of a Black lesbian romance where the characters have somewhat firmly established gender roles (literally, one character’s main nickname for the other is “Papa” aS fRiEnDs.) Even with those roles, this is not a touch me not story where you can barely tell if the femme is interested in their partner. As an asexual person, I obviously do not see anything wrong with someone refusing sex on either side—giving or receiving. However, I believe there is truly something evil afoot when so many of our fictional stories about lesbians lay out these imbalanced dynamics where the femme partner is the center of attention, and the masc partner simply “lives to please.”
In the case of fiction, this is not an individual person sharing their preference to give and not receive—this is a troubling societal indicator of how we bring internalized homophobia and desirability politics into the bedroom. Thankfully, A Little Kissing Between Friends is a shining example where the stud is cast as sexually attractive for more than what she can do to someone else, and the femme partner is deeply interested and excited about being in the “giving” role. On these scenes, I have no notes, just my compliments to the author!
I'd skip the audiobook (minor dialogue gripes)
My final comment is that I think I would’ve preferred the regular book instead of the audiobook. I did like the novelty of having two different narrators for the two different POV characters, as I hadn’t seen that done before. Unfortunately though, I think some of the dialogue just did not hold up well when read aloud, where usually I can suspend disbelief when reading bad dialogue on the page. Even when I understand what Higgins was trying to do, the poor execution of certain conversations between characters really struck me in the audiobook format. Scenes between Cindy and her family came across as annoying and meddlesome when I knew they should’ve seemed really sweet and comforting. I try not to fault authors who have many talents for not having other specific skills. And so, I will simply recommend the written format for this book, and look forward to Higgins’ continued growth as a conversational writer.
Closing Recommendation
Read this, read this, read this!!! If you like romance novels and you’re a Black lesbian, there will be few better ones coming out this year (or probably even next.) There are some touching points about the broader world beyond romantic relationships, and DELIGHTFUL sex scenes. Enjoy and support this lady so we can get even more books from her in the future!!!
August 20, 2024
60% of the book was looking to be 4 stars, but then it went downhill quickly. The way Cyn started acting towards Jucee made me uncomfortable.
Within three pages towards the end, [slight spoilers ahead], Cyn says:
“I think Jucee thought that I used sex to manipulate her. I mean, she never told me no for anything after I gave her a screaming orgasm, but that was never my intention…I couldn't deny that it worked in my favor more often than not.”
And then follows it with:
“This was a calculated move for me because Jucee was always more malleable with a full stomach. Whether her stomach was full of laughter, my strap, good food, or drink.”
This just felt so icky to me, I don’t know. Wanting to make Jucee “malleable” so she’d take her back is just... Anyway, I didn’t fully buy into their suddenly being in love, and the way they acted towards the end felt out of character too. Two thirds of this book was amazing, though!
Within three pages towards the end, [slight spoilers ahead], Cyn says:
“I think Jucee thought that I used sex to manipulate her. I mean, she never told me no for anything after I gave her a screaming orgasm, but that was never my intention…I couldn't deny that it worked in my favor more often than not.”
And then follows it with:
“This was a calculated move for me because Jucee was always more malleable with a full stomach. Whether her stomach was full of laughter, my strap, good food, or drink.”
This just felt so icky to me, I don’t know. Wanting to make Jucee “malleable” so she’d take her back is just... Anyway, I didn’t fully buy into their suddenly being in love, and the way they acted towards the end felt out of character too. Two thirds of this book was amazing, though!
September 21, 2024
2.5 stars
I liked Jucee and her POV. Cyn was trash!! I’m glad her father and brother called her out for her antics! To be honest, I would’ve liked this book more if we only got Jucee’s POV.
There were way too many side characters introduced in the beginning of the story, so the set up felt chaotic to me.
There were some jumps in the writing here and there that made certain parts feel disjointed and I needed to reread.
I liked the representation in this book (sex positive, healthy co parenting, sapphic friends to lovers).
I liked Jucee and her POV. Cyn was trash!! I’m glad her father and brother called her out for her antics! To be honest, I would’ve liked this book more if we only got Jucee’s POV.
There were way too many side characters introduced in the beginning of the story, so the set up felt chaotic to me.
There were some jumps in the writing here and there that made certain parts feel disjointed and I needed to reread.
I liked the representation in this book (sex positive, healthy co parenting, sapphic friends to lovers).
January 15, 2024
If you like low/no plot, just two hot women trying to figure their shit out for over 200 pages, this one's for you. If poor communication annoys you, this isn't the one. Did I want a plot? Nah. The characters stand on their own, and their path is complicated enough to fill the book.
February 22, 2025
I wanted to like this low-conflict sapphic romance a little more than I did, but I still teared up at the ending.
I enjoyed hanging out with the characters but got so impatient with them - the entire plot could have been resolved with one conversation.
I enjoyed hanging out with the characters but got so impatient with them - the entire plot could have been resolved with one conversation.
August 17, 2025
A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C Higgins
Contemporary diverse sapphic romance.
Cyn Tha Starr is a music producer with an active social life. She has a lot of friends, male and female, and one of her besties is Juleesa Jones. One night dancing together, Cyn realizes that Juleesa may be more than just a friend. Cyn isn’t sure if she wants to risk their friendship for a short-term affair but her feeling for the woman are getting stronger.
Dancing, partying and tight friendships are the norm for this group of friends and their lifestyle. I appreciated the friendships and the openness in the story though talking is always my preference. And I would have liked it more if Cyn had more respect for the rules of Juleesa’s job.
The story is steamy, and a bit angsty and ultimately an emotionally happy connection.
Contemporary diverse sapphic romance.
Cyn Tha Starr is a music producer with an active social life. She has a lot of friends, male and female, and one of her besties is Juleesa Jones. One night dancing together, Cyn realizes that Juleesa may be more than just a friend. Cyn isn’t sure if she wants to risk their friendship for a short-term affair but her feeling for the woman are getting stronger.
Dancing, partying and tight friendships are the norm for this group of friends and their lifestyle. I appreciated the friendships and the openness in the story though talking is always my preference. And I would have liked it more if Cyn had more respect for the rules of Juleesa’s job.
The story is steamy, and a bit angsty and ultimately an emotionally happy connection.
May 31, 2024
A Little Kissing Between Friends
Chencia C. Higgins
An up-and-coming music producer, and her bestie, club Sanity's top stripper, put their friendship on the line when they take things to the next level.
This steamy body-positive, besties-to-lovers, Black sapphic romance pulled me in from the first page! Blending themes of music, friendship, family, and the importance of communication, I thoroughly enjoyed taking this journey with Poppa and Jucee.
Chencia C. Higgins
An up-and-coming music producer, and her bestie, club Sanity's top stripper, put their friendship on the line when they take things to the next level.
This steamy body-positive, besties-to-lovers, Black sapphic romance pulled me in from the first page! Blending themes of music, friendship, family, and the importance of communication, I thoroughly enjoyed taking this journey with Poppa and Jucee.
February 27, 2025
Ohhhhhhh ho.
Not bi-phobia coming from the lesbian love interest - Cyn - in a 2024 romance????
Not said love interest’s inner dialogue admitting she uses sex to fix the problems:
“I think Jucee thought that I used sex to manipulate her. I mean, she never told me no for anything after I gave her a screaming orgasm, but that was never my intention…I couldn't deny that it worked in my favor more often than not.”
and then in the next breath admitting to herself that she was trying to manipulate Jucee again????:
"This was a calculated move for me because Jucee was always more malleable with a full stomach. Whether her stomach was full of laughter, my strap, good food, or drink."
Are you kidding me with all of this? Cyn is trying to win Jucee back in this scene and THIS is how she's thinking about the love of her life?This is fucking GROSS behavior!
Cyn was a wet-blanket of a love-interest even before her casual bi-phobia, but Jucee deserved the world. She absolutely deserved better than Cyn. My god.
Beyond all of that, there was some serious structural issues with the story - time-jumps were thrown in willynilly and excused with “I hadn’t seen her in 3 weeks” type of lines like wdym. There were also soooo many side-characters that were named, described and then went off into the distance, and many a scenery detail that didn’t matter but took up page space (who cares about the lemonade order or how sweet a tea is?!).
Also, since I’m already here and this is the worst book I’ve suffered through in awhile, explain to me why Cyn, thinking Jucee isn’t going to be at work
And why did Jucee call Cyn "Poppa"? Why was this the pet-name that was never explained and why was I as the reader just supposed to think that was normal???
Not bi-phobia coming from the lesbian love interest - Cyn - in a 2024 romance????
Not said love interest’s inner dialogue admitting she uses sex to fix the problems:
“I think Jucee thought that I used sex to manipulate her. I mean, she never told me no for anything after I gave her a screaming orgasm, but that was never my intention…I couldn't deny that it worked in my favor more often than not.”
and then in the next breath admitting to herself that she was trying to manipulate Jucee again????:
"This was a calculated move for me because Jucee was always more malleable with a full stomach. Whether her stomach was full of laughter, my strap, good food, or drink."
Are you kidding me with all of this? Cyn is trying to win Jucee back in this scene and THIS is how she's thinking about the love of her life?This is fucking GROSS behavior!
Cyn was a wet-blanket of a love-interest even before her casual bi-phobia, but Jucee deserved the world. She absolutely deserved better than Cyn. My god.
Beyond all of that, there was some serious structural issues with the story - time-jumps were thrown in willynilly and excused with “I hadn’t seen her in 3 weeks” type of lines like wdym. There were also soooo many side-characters that were named, described and then went off into the distance, and many a scenery detail that didn’t matter but took up page space (who cares about the lemonade order or how sweet a tea is?!).
Also, since I’m already here and this is the worst book I’ve suffered through in awhile, explain to me why Cyn, thinking Jucee isn’t going to be at work
And why did Jucee call Cyn "Poppa"? Why was this the pet-name that was never explained and why was I as the reader just supposed to think that was normal???
May 23, 2024
Chencia has done it agaiiiiiiiin!! I as really grateful to get an ARC of this and it DID NOT MISS!!
Jucee and Cyn aka Poppa were so fun to read from the start. Loved their friendship and when the feelings started to do their thing??? Yes hello! I love me some friends to lovers cuz I have been there. So I truly got their fears and insecurities when they both started seeing each other in a different sexy light.
Jucee is fine as heck and Cyn is sexy and suave. The two together hot hot hot. Many times I wanted to shake Cyn because she was just doing some nonsense (side eyes the whole Jackie thing) but the author does a really great job of highlighting these characters' flaws and even though at times they shied away from really communication how they felt they had their support systems to get them together!
Here we saw Jucee had a healthy relationship with Samir her ex and baby daddy as well as the girls she danced with. We also get to see Cyn with her dad, brother, close friends and other family members too. Cyn's dad had be rolling with each muttered "mmm" and the look we knowww black parents just all seem to have on the ready >.>
Anyhoo this was entertaining, steamy and had me all in my emotions too! So get it, read it, shout about iiiit
Jucee and Cyn aka Poppa were so fun to read from the start. Loved their friendship and when the feelings started to do their thing??? Yes hello! I love me some friends to lovers cuz I have been there. So I truly got their fears and insecurities when they both started seeing each other in a different sexy light.
Jucee is fine as heck and Cyn is sexy and suave. The two together hot hot hot. Many times I wanted to shake Cyn because she was just doing some nonsense (side eyes the whole Jackie thing) but the author does a really great job of highlighting these characters' flaws and even though at times they shied away from really communication how they felt they had their support systems to get them together!
Here we saw Jucee had a healthy relationship with Samir her ex and baby daddy as well as the girls she danced with. We also get to see Cyn with her dad, brother, close friends and other family members too. Cyn's dad had be rolling with each muttered "mmm" and the look we knowww black parents just all seem to have on the ready >.>
Anyhoo this was entertaining, steamy and had me all in my emotions too! So get it, read it, shout about iiiit
April 26, 2024
I love that this is a sapphic romance between two plus sized black women.
I also love how one of them is a sex worker and how we support sex work.
I could see the characters and their personalities.
I also love how one of them is a sex worker and how we support sex work.
I could see the characters and their personalities.
October 7, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I had a love hate relationship with Poppa and Jucee. I rooted for them through the whole story but they both just kept making stupid and toxic decisions out of hurt. It makes me wonder if they ever should have crossed the line of friendship to lovers at all
I had a love hate relationship with Poppa and Jucee. I rooted for them through the whole story but they both just kept making stupid and toxic decisions out of hurt. It makes me wonder if they ever should have crossed the line of friendship to lovers at all
September 6, 2024
this is the horny sensual sapphic goodness I love to read 🫠
July 9, 2024
I loved this book. Such a cute friends to lovers. The plus size representation was everything. Especially with Jucee being a dancer. Like YES!! It’s was so refreshing to see both of these ladies have very loving and supportive families. That can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Papa aka Cyn definitely had the sauce because baby girl was getting ‘em. Don’t play with her. Period. The spice between these two was hot baby and i was so here for it.
I know a lot of us readers don’t care for miscommunication between characters. However, with Jucee it was a little deeper and i let it slide since we learn why she held back when communicating. Sometimes when in a sticky situation it’s hard to see that no matter what people will love you through anything. Even after the people that were supposed to love you forever gave up on you. Cyn realizing how what she does to people while handling situations matters a lot. Don’t let a good thing go because of pride. Use your voice and just be honest the best you can. Anyways the audio to this was good and i think anyone would enjoy.
I know a lot of us readers don’t care for miscommunication between characters. However, with Jucee it was a little deeper and i let it slide since we learn why she held back when communicating. Sometimes when in a sticky situation it’s hard to see that no matter what people will love you through anything. Even after the people that were supposed to love you forever gave up on you. Cyn realizing how what she does to people while handling situations matters a lot. Don’t let a good thing go because of pride. Use your voice and just be honest the best you can. Anyways the audio to this was good and i think anyone would enjoy.
February 18, 2025
this was a chill little read! I love a good sapphic romance and this one was focused on a sex worker and a music producer. It was great to see positive sex worker rep and to have some masc presenting characters that had some depth and showcased softness. The pacing was a little off for me in points this book was only alil over 300 pages but it felt longer and not in a good way. Some editing would have benefitted IMO as it dragged unnecessarily in some spots. The lack of communication between the main charactes was also irksome at a certain point because at yall's big age why r we doing this? they were established to be such great friends for some years so the fact that they were choosing to not have simple convos yet lamenting in their internal dialogues that we had to read for pages and pages was silly. Aside from that, it was good tho and the spicy scenes were great i was giggling and have questions I need to ask my lesbian homegirls after reading a certain scene cause is this a thing for real??! haha Quick easy ready and will be keeping my eye out for more from the author
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