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Mainely Books Club
Tempted By Her
I wasn’t looking forward to finding a new roommate after my best friend, Joy, moved in with her girlfriend, Ezra. We’ve lived together for years, and I didn’t want to start over with a stranger. Then there’s a fire at the house Lark’s renting and for some reason I open my mouth and offer to let her move in with me.
Lark Conroy, the same woman I had one blisteringly hot night with months ago and have pretended to be normal around ever since. When it comes to love, I’m allergic to romance. I like to hit-it and quit-it and move on with my life.
There’s no reason I can’t be cordial and normal with Lark while we live together temporarily. We’re both mature adults. Well, I’m not that mature, but I can fake it.
Turns out pretending I don’t want to kiss Lark every waking moment is harder than I thought, and spending time with her is giving me feelings that I’ve never had before and don’t know what to do with. I’m in a situation and I have absolutely no idea how to stop myself from falling in love with her, or if I even want to.
Lark Conroy, the same woman I had one blisteringly hot night with months ago and have pretended to be normal around ever since. When it comes to love, I’m allergic to romance. I like to hit-it and quit-it and move on with my life.
There’s no reason I can’t be cordial and normal with Lark while we live together temporarily. We’re both mature adults. Well, I’m not that mature, but I can fake it.
Turns out pretending I don’t want to kiss Lark every waking moment is harder than I thought, and spending time with her is giving me feelings that I’ve never had before and don’t know what to do with. I’m in a situation and I have absolutely no idea how to stop myself from falling in love with her, or if I even want to.
Unknown Binding
First published December 13, 2022
129 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea M. Cameron
114 books4,880 followersChelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, eating brunch in bed, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 25, 2023
Good book that kept me entertained, though the ‘fore-play’ was almost a hundred pages play! Good to catch up with old friends. Recommended.
April 8, 2023
Sydney is allergic to love/relationships. But she believes in hookups. After 2 disastrous dates, she goes on hiatus from hookups. Until she meets up with Lark at a bar out of town. They know of one another, and start talking and they feel the heat. They end up having an incredible night.
3 months later, after Syd's blip with Lark, she's still on hiatus. When the house Lark was burned (electrical fire). Syd needs a roommate and offers her extra room to Lark. This is so hot, a little angsty, but a great love story. 5 stars all the way!
3 months later, after Syd's blip with Lark, she's still on hiatus. When the house Lark was burned (electrical fire). Syd needs a roommate and offers her extra room to Lark. This is so hot, a little angsty, but a great love story. 5 stars all the way!
January 28, 2023
I suppose it would score better if I had read the earlier works.. my bad..still a pretty good book
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February 12, 2023i need everlys book like right now.
February 28, 2023
The most realistic, funny book in this series. And also references to popular meme words from tiktok pleased me. When Chelsea adds them to the dialogue, it's all cute and fun to read. I also liked this book, because it has a lot of passion, desire, humor and comfort characters as well. The most memorable details from the couple's interaction, for me it was Lark singing to Sydney
January 28, 2024
Cute cute cuteee. I love the roommates to lovers trope and this was so sweet it hurt my teeth. This author does fluff so well, my go-to for this genre.
March 14, 2023
I hadn’t had a father in my life either, but I’d felt his absence for years. Every time I saw another girl with her dad, I had a sick jealous feeling in my stomach. That feeling lessened as I’d gotten older, but it would still randomly pop up sometimes.
January 13, 2023
I'm a big fan of this author, i have really enjoyed two of her series that are on KU. In this Mainely series, I really liked the first two books. Not sure which i liked better as i have reread them both multiple times.
In those books I was introduced to Sydney and Lark. Lark was introduced as sort of young and sheltered and interesting. Sydney was always a player. When i saw it was Sydney and Lark i was disappointed. I never really liked Sydney and I liked Lark.
The book to me wasn't that fun of a read. I mostly wished Lark would run and find another place to live. She tried to set boundaries and Sydney had no respect for them. One time was particularly egregious, but Lark went along with it, so that was confusing. I will say, it was fun to document all of the ways Sydney was a jerk and call her different names in the notes.
Lark, while we didn't get inside her head, was confusing. At times she stuck to her boundaries and other times it was confusing due the choices she made. It did seem at times like she was being taken advantage of. But hey, it all worked out.
It was still written well and i look forward to the author's next book. So i feel like i should give it more stars, but Sydney, really?
In those books I was introduced to Sydney and Lark. Lark was introduced as sort of young and sheltered and interesting. Sydney was always a player. When i saw it was Sydney and Lark i was disappointed. I never really liked Sydney and I liked Lark.
The book to me wasn't that fun of a read. I mostly wished Lark would run and find another place to live. She tried to set boundaries and Sydney had no respect for them. One time was particularly egregious, but Lark went along with it, so that was confusing. I will say, it was fun to document all of the ways Sydney was a jerk and call her different names in the notes.
Lark, while we didn't get inside her head, was confusing. At times she stuck to her boundaries and other times it was confusing due the choices she made. It did seem at times like she was being taken advantage of. But hey, it all worked out.
It was still written well and i look forward to the author's next book. So i feel like i should give it more stars, but Sydney, really?
July 20, 2023
I just really dislike Sydney. I get the 'I don't do relationships' trope but this is usually accompanied by a past traumatic moment in the MC's life that sort of justifies it. None of that is present here for Sydney. She just doesn't do relationships and that's that. She says that she'd have to change herself entirely for love and being in love would always be awful. But where's her evidence or past experience of that? Practically everyone around her is in love and are the happiest they've ever been but no, being in love would be so awful. Her two best friends, who are fully in love, tell her that having feelings for someone is amazing but she vehemently rejects that notion.
Usually the 'I love you' scenes are the best parts of a romance story but I absolutely hated how the 'I love yous' are played out in this one. I won't go into detail so I'll just say that Sydney was very disrespectful of Lark's confession in a way that I hated Sydney even more than I did before. The complete lack of emotion in her response really caught me off guard. Shortly after, we get Sydney's own confession and it feels so cheap and condescending. When Lark's confession scene ends with , you know something has gone very wrong.
There's a significant lack of communication between the MCs and it follows a trope that I absolutely hate, that being initiating sex instead of talking about what they are doing. Sydney does this a lot because she's in denial of her feelings for Lark and Lark does this too because she's afraid of rejection from Sydney. It's all very infuriating.
Usually the 'I love you' scenes are the best parts of a romance story but I absolutely hated how the 'I love yous' are played out in this one. I won't go into detail so I'll just say that Sydney was very disrespectful of Lark's confession in a way that I hated Sydney even more than I did before. The complete lack of emotion in her response really caught me off guard. Shortly after, we get Sydney's own confession and it feels so cheap and condescending. When Lark's confession scene ends with , you know something has gone very wrong.
There's a significant lack of communication between the MCs and it follows a trope that I absolutely hate, that being initiating sex instead of talking about what they are doing. Sydney does this a lot because she's in denial of her feelings for Lark and Lark does this too because she's afraid of rejection from Sydney. It's all very infuriating.
January 7, 2023
Sexy, fun, very cute. Just wish there was a second POV.
This one was sexy and fun, and of course the way it wrapped up was inevitable but the details were freaking adorable. The characters were both very well developed. I know I've said this before about this authors work, but she does such a great job developing characters from the first person perspective, these books, particularly this one, would be absolute gold if they switched back and forth between POVs to tell the story. I say this one in particular because previously in this series Lark's sister, Honor, was the love interest so we got to see her from an outside perspective and learn about their background from an outside perspective, it would have been nice to see one of them from the first person POV. I think it would have given both of them more depth. But it was interesting to see honor from Lark's perspective after seeing her mostly from Layne's perspective.
Another interesting way this could be explored, would be to do a secondary series that follows up this one, in which the main character POV was still first person but all from the love interests' perspectives. Then we could learn a little more about their lives together and the challenges they face particularly with their families because they all have challenges with their families, that are brought up but never actually addressed in the books.
All that said, I very much enjoyed this book, and will keep reading.
This one was sexy and fun, and of course the way it wrapped up was inevitable but the details were freaking adorable. The characters were both very well developed. I know I've said this before about this authors work, but she does such a great job developing characters from the first person perspective, these books, particularly this one, would be absolute gold if they switched back and forth between POVs to tell the story. I say this one in particular because previously in this series Lark's sister, Honor, was the love interest so we got to see her from an outside perspective and learn about their background from an outside perspective, it would have been nice to see one of them from the first person POV. I think it would have given both of them more depth. But it was interesting to see honor from Lark's perspective after seeing her mostly from Layne's perspective.
Another interesting way this could be explored, would be to do a secondary series that follows up this one, in which the main character POV was still first person but all from the love interests' perspectives. Then we could learn a little more about their lives together and the challenges they face particularly with their families because they all have challenges with their families, that are brought up but never actually addressed in the books.
All that said, I very much enjoyed this book, and will keep reading.
January 4, 2023
What happens when your one time hookup becomes your roommate? A lot of awkward tension and pretending that you’re fine, and that you don’t still think about that one night you had together. Sydney and Lark had one night together and that was it. That was what they agreed on. A few months later, Sydney is looking for a roommate and Lark’s place just burned down and she’s staying in her sister’s guest room. Desperate for a place, she goes against her better judgment except Sydney’s offer to live there. It doesn’t take either of them long to realize that they still are attracted to each other. It does take Sydney a little bit longer to make her feelings, even to herself. How could the woman who doesn’t believe in love fall in love?
This is a good book but I gave it three stars because it annoyed me a little how Sydney kept refusing emotional connections even though they already existed. She just wanted to pretend and ignore them rather than addressing them. And why she doesn’t want to find love wasn’t really explained all that well either. I was expecting something traumatic by the way she was acting, but instead we got a vague answer about not wanting to lose herself.
This is a good book but I gave it three stars because it annoyed me a little how Sydney kept refusing emotional connections even though they already existed. She just wanted to pretend and ignore them rather than addressing them. And why she doesn’t want to find love wasn’t really explained all that well either. I was expecting something traumatic by the way she was acting, but instead we got a vague answer about not wanting to lose herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
Loved this novel. This is the best one in the series so far, and by a large margin. Like the rest of the series this is fairly simple and straightforward (said in a positive way), low angst/conflict, and reads like comfort food. This novel had it all though; it was spicy, sweet, heartwarming, and a lot of fun. I loved the protagonists together SO much and thankfully they didn’t spend 80% of the novel apart like you so frequently see. Without spoiling anything, ill just say that the author made some excellent choices with this novel.
My Rating: “A-”
GoodReads: 5-Stars
I like the companion-novel approach the author is taking, with plenty of cameos from the past characters and continuations of their storylines. I am truly looking forward to seeing how everything is going by the last novels (10 in the series as of right now!) as that is a lot of timeline to cover!
Like the other entries in this series I will comment that there are some pieces that seem to be missing in this novel; scenes/conversation that I would have expected (and wanted) to see. Keeping with what seems to be my new mantra for this series, ill say that “missing does not equal wrong”.
My Rating: “A-”
GoodReads: 5-Stars
I like the companion-novel approach the author is taking, with plenty of cameos from the past characters and continuations of their storylines. I am truly looking forward to seeing how everything is going by the last novels (10 in the series as of right now!) as that is a lot of timeline to cover!
Like the other entries in this series I will comment that there are some pieces that seem to be missing in this novel; scenes/conversation that I would have expected (and wanted) to see. Keeping with what seems to be my new mantra for this series, ill say that “missing does not equal wrong”.
December 28, 2022
Sydney is a one-night stand champion, but even she realizes her hookup with Lark, a friend’s younger sister, was a mistake. When Lark loses her home, Syd just keeps compounding the mistake by asking Lark to be her new roommate, despite their history, nearly explosive physical chemistry, and annoyingly tender feelings.
Tempted By Her is the third book in the Mainely Books Club series and features the little book club’s most romance-resistant heroine yet. Sydney is irreverent, sarcastic, and free-spirited in her sex life. But of course, her physical and emotional clashes with the sweet and sassy Lark soon peel away Sydney’s sharp edges to reveal her inner softy. Their romance is equal parts sweet and spicy, driven by their colorful personalities. Sydney and Lark are realistic and endearing characters that fit perfectly with the rest of the delightful fictional Arrowbridge community.
Tempted by Her is an entertaining addition to this series and will definitely capture the hearts of bookworms who love sapphic romance.
Tempted By Her is the third book in the Mainely Books Club series and features the little book club’s most romance-resistant heroine yet. Sydney is irreverent, sarcastic, and free-spirited in her sex life. But of course, her physical and emotional clashes with the sweet and sassy Lark soon peel away Sydney’s sharp edges to reveal her inner softy. Their romance is equal parts sweet and spicy, driven by their colorful personalities. Sydney and Lark are realistic and endearing characters that fit perfectly with the rest of the delightful fictional Arrowbridge community.
Tempted by Her is an entertaining addition to this series and will definitely capture the hearts of bookworms who love sapphic romance.
December 24, 2022
Amazing
Loved this book!!! Just an add on to the castleton crew and such unique characters. I would highly recommend reading all the other books before this one but you're brought on a journey with all your favourite characters 🥰🥰🥰
Loved this book!!! Just an add on to the castleton crew and such unique characters. I would highly recommend reading all the other books before this one but you're brought on a journey with all your favourite characters 🥰🥰🥰
December 15, 2022
Great series. When a one night stand becomes your roommate it does make life complicated. Especially when you suddenly develop feelings for her. Looking forward to the next book. Love the author.
December 31, 2022
sweet
I’m really loving this new series more and more. Loved the MC’s and cat support character. Looking forward to the next one.
I’m really loving this new series more and more. Loved the MC’s and cat support character. Looking forward to the next one.
February 13, 2023
Another great one!
I just couldn't put this one down. I really enjoyed it and learning the story of someone who never thought love could.find them. Well woth it!!
I just couldn't put this one down. I really enjoyed it and learning the story of someone who never thought love could.find them. Well woth it!!
February 16, 2023
So sweet, sexy, and fun!
Lark and Sydney are adorable, and the rest of the crew bring the cute, too.
Whenever I’m looking for a light read, Chelsea M. Cameron is my go to.
Lark and Sydney are adorable, and the rest of the crew bring the cute, too.
Whenever I’m looking for a light read, Chelsea M. Cameron is my go to.
September 30, 2024
this is my second favorite out of the series because it has forced proximity and it best friend girlfriend little sister and it so good because one character doesn't do relationships.
March 3, 2023
Oo-kay...what just happened? To be fair, I am not CC's biggest fan. Some of her romance falls flat, some stories feel very rushed, there have been plot holes, etc. But occasionally, I do really like her stuff, which is why I keep giving it another chance. And so far, I have loved the Mainely Books Club series. I sure do wish there were more book lovers and queer people around me. And also, I was hoping for a romance involving Lark. From the moment I met her, I hoped for it.
So, why I am not more in love with this book than the others? Whew, wish I knew! First, let me preface this to say I still love Lark. She is still a great character, and I have no issues there. I think it's Sydney, for me, at least in part. I couldn't connect with her as a character! It just wasn't working. And that made it hard to vote for the romance. I felt kind of ambiguous about it. There were parts I really enjoyed, and the anticipation was there. But all in all, I just wasn't thrilled. I didn't read this one as quickly as the others, didn't rate it as highly, and I'm even a little down about the next one. Ugh.
The I-Love-You's were cute, though, which is one of the most important parts, in my opinion. I was looking for and missed some clarity, though. Because - SPOILER - when Lark told Sydney she'd fallen for her, Syd just said that it wasn't love. She failed to ever expound on why Syd said that. Did she mean it was just a phase or infatuation? Was she implying that Lark just wasn't used to casual sex and had gotten her feelings confused? Was she saying that love is temporary, and so Lark would forget about it? We will never know, because no one says. Lark never asks. Sydney never thinks of it again. That conversation is simply never continued, which really disappoints me. That felt important.
So, why I am not more in love with this book than the others? Whew, wish I knew! First, let me preface this to say I still love Lark. She is still a great character, and I have no issues there. I think it's Sydney, for me, at least in part. I couldn't connect with her as a character! It just wasn't working. And that made it hard to vote for the romance. I felt kind of ambiguous about it. There were parts I really enjoyed, and the anticipation was there. But all in all, I just wasn't thrilled. I didn't read this one as quickly as the others, didn't rate it as highly, and I'm even a little down about the next one. Ugh.
The I-Love-You's were cute, though, which is one of the most important parts, in my opinion. I was looking for and missed some clarity, though. Because - SPOILER - when Lark told Sydney she'd fallen for her, Syd just said that it wasn't love. She failed to ever expound on why Syd said that. Did she mean it was just a phase or infatuation? Was she implying that Lark just wasn't used to casual sex and had gotten her feelings confused? Was she saying that love is temporary, and so Lark would forget about it? We will never know, because no one says. Lark never asks. Sydney never thinks of it again. That conversation is simply never continued, which really disappoints me. That felt important.
August 23, 2023
Honestly, this probably should be three stars, but I still enjoyed it enough to give it four. It continues with the whole “cute, light, low angst” thing I have loved from the previous two books, but takes the horniness to another level!!
Besides “Mistakes Were Made,” this is one of the few books that actually felt sexy…I do not really know how to describe it better than that? And there have been a few others, but probably less than ten (for me, at least) are anywhere near sexy.
I wish there were more development in Sydney. There is some kind of passive acceptance of things throughout, but never an actual shift (gradual, at least) toward her feelings for Lark. Also, I feel there should have been at least one scene with Honor talking to Sydney? Why would that not happen at all?? She and Lark are sisters, so should she not be apprised of the situation??
Besides “Mistakes Were Made,” this is one of the few books that actually felt sexy…I do not really know how to describe it better than that? And there have been a few others, but probably less than ten (for me, at least) are anywhere near sexy.
I wish there were more development in Sydney. There is some kind of passive acceptance of things throughout, but never an actual shift (gradual, at least) toward her feelings for Lark. Also, I feel there should have been at least one scene with Honor talking to Sydney? Why would that not happen at all?? She and Lark are sisters, so should she not be apprised of the situation??
December 21, 2022
This follow-on to the Mainely Books Club series is a fall in love with your roommate tale. The minor complication in this instance is a one-night stand Sydney and Lark shared a while back. The larger issue is Sydney’s resistance to emotional connections – even when they already exist. While the couple eventually work things out the reader might be left with the feeling that perhaps Sydney does not quite deserve Lark. Still, this a fun low angst tale with many opportunities to catch up with many characters from earlier books in the two series.
May 24, 2023
Wow. Chelsea just does it again. Another amazing book in the series. This book COULD have scored a 6 out of 5 but unfortunately it loses a star because it was missing a Diabetes warning. This was so sweet it felt like I was drinking Kool-aid without the water. Southern lemonade made with pure cane sugar. Swimming in clouds made of cotton candy.
I looooved it.. mmmm mmmm mmmmmmm!
And the best part? The next book is the highest rated in the series.... I am so looking forward to it!
I looooved it.. mmmm mmmm mmmmmmm!
And the best part? The next book is the highest rated in the series.... I am so looking forward to it!
June 20, 2023
Sydney's constant nosiness in the previous book was pretty annoying, but she shines on her own this time (depending on how you like your MCs).
For me flawed characters are the best, and Sydney is an immature prat, I love her so much haha. One of the best main characters Ms Cameron has written imo. In a normal Sapphic romance the fallout arc could have been pretty bad, but I'm glad there was none of that here. So far I'm liking this series more than the Castleton one.
For me flawed characters are the best, and Sydney is an immature prat, I love her so much haha. One of the best main characters Ms Cameron has written imo. In a normal Sapphic romance the fallout arc could have been pretty bad, but I'm glad there was none of that here. So far I'm liking this series more than the Castleton one.
October 9, 2023
great writing!
I love Chelsea Cameron’s dialogue! It’s so good I forgot I’m reading. Both characters in this Maine series book were people you wish you knew IRL-what a wonderful person Lark is (just wow) and although Sydney is a lotharia and blockhead on one hand, on the other hand she is a sweet, caring, and giving person. Thankfully Lark is up to the task!
I love Chelsea Cameron’s dialogue! It’s so good I forgot I’m reading. Both characters in this Maine series book were people you wish you knew IRL-what a wonderful person Lark is (just wow) and although Sydney is a lotharia and blockhead on one hand, on the other hand she is a sweet, caring, and giving person. Thankfully Lark is up to the task!
January 25, 2023
I enjoyed this book although I spend a good chunk of it not being a fan of Sydney’s dismissal of relationships and treating women right! Still loved it and glad her and Lark pulled through! Still preferred the previous books in this series but still was a good read
December 5, 2023
Naively books c!in series
I have just finished reading book three Ingrid series when I looked closely at your photo at the end.I wondered how someone so young could have written so many books.
I have just finished reading book three Ingrid series when I looked closely at your photo at the end.I wondered how someone so young could have written so many books.
July 9, 2024
A hard one
I'm not a huge fan of the "I'll never be in love, emotions aren't for me" type attitude cause it always feels like there's a wall between the characters, but all in all it ended well so I won't complain too much.
I'm not a huge fan of the "I'll never be in love, emotions aren't for me" type attitude cause it always feels like there's a wall between the characters, but all in all it ended well so I won't complain too much.
January 3, 2023
3.75 rounded to 4. It was an alright book, but I was not a fan of the execution of the third act breakup.
May 31, 2023
The heart wants what the heart wants. Sydney didn't want a forever love, but her heart felt different. Recommended. HEA A lot of get togethers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews