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What Was Meant to Be
From the author of Love Unexpected comes an all new age-gap forbidden romance.
Three years ago, Jacob Price walked away.
After a whirlwind steamy affair, my father's best friend broke my heart.
He told me things were too complicated. Messy. Wrong.
That we could never be together.
I knew he loved me but the fear of ruining our family was too great.
With too much at stake, he sacrificed our hearts and ended it.
Now, he's back and he still wants me.
He still loves me.
But now, I'm engaged to another man.
Three years ago, Jacob Price walked away.
After a whirlwind steamy affair, my father's best friend broke my heart.
He told me things were too complicated. Messy. Wrong.
That we could never be together.
I knew he loved me but the fear of ruining our family was too great.
With too much at stake, he sacrificed our hearts and ended it.
Now, he's back and he still wants me.
He still loves me.
But now, I'm engaged to another man.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2022
2947 people are currently reading
21692 people want to read
About the author
Q.B. Tyler
25 books6,777 followersAmazon Top 15 Bestselling author and lover of forbidden romances, tacos, coffee, and wine, Q.B. Tyler gives readers sometimes angsty, sometimes emotional but always deliciously steamy romances featuring sassy heroines and the heroes that worship them. She's best known for writing forbidden (and sometimes taboo) romances, so if that's your thing, you've come to the right place. When she's not writing, you can usually find her on Instagram (definitely procrastinating), shopping or at brunch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,256 reviews
November 6, 2022
Listen... 
QB owes me child support because this book just got me pregnant.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and phewwwwwwwwwwww.
I don't know, QB's voice just does it for me. If you're an age-gap lover like I am, it doesn't get better than this.
Our FMC had a relationship with her much older godfather in secret, but unfortunately, he gives up on the relationship at some point, so he can go be a DOCTOR in Mexico. *hot*
He comes back with a vengeance though once he finds out she is about to get married to another man and he is NOT going to let that happen.
There is nothing hotter than a guy who is so damn confident that he is not even remotely fazed to rejection [don't mistake this for him not understanding the word no]
He is in synch with Whitney, there's so much sneaking around, so many hushed feelings and bathroom make out sessions and the whole thing is just a GOOD DAMN TIME ok? Also, what can I say? I have an amazing relationship with my father - not a flex - BUT I AM JUST NATURALLY DRAWN to age-gap relationships because they are INCREDIBLE in fiction and I WILL MAKE NO APOLOGIES.
It's the adrenaline, all the forbidden aspects, the unlikelihood of it being socially acceptable. I want chaos, dread, and sexiness. And What Was Meant To Be delivered. Bonus points because he is also her father's best friend.
Give me forbidden, give me wrong, dirty, I want all lines crossed and no one crosses lines like QB Tyler.
The book does mention the pandemic a few times, just putting that out there as a possible trigger [?], just in case.
I really like QB's voice in general, the way she writes her female and male pov's make sense to me. It flows really well and it's always an easy and enjoyable read.
Also, she's soooooo goooooood at her sex scenes, it's a PROBLEM ACTUALLY.
Can't wait for you guys to get your hands on this one.
honorable mention to my favorite quote in this: barely legal is still LEGAL
I am going to say this all the time from now on, thanks very much. (god bless forbidden romances)
Read
February 14, 2023DNF at 12%
Second try for this author, and I'm giving up. Nothing but smut and melodrama. I can't get over the immense feeling of immaturity of the FMC. Knee jerk character reactions that never feel like a realistic response. No character development, no romance, it's just non stop sex that is trying so hard to be taboo but literally had me rolling my eyes and laughing out loud. This type of writing is what I call the sledgehammer approach: leaving nothing up to your reader's interpretation and relying ONLY on throwing something random and "taboo" in to shock a reaction out of you. It doesnt require skill or finesse. It's amateur hour, plain and simple.
Edit: me writing this review well aware I'm about to be the butt of jokes about one star reviews complaining about too much sex. But let me be clear, in the romance community of 2023 where smut and spice are the only checkmarks required for "good romance" anyone wanting actual romance instead of only smut gets a bit of derision sent their way, but that does not mean we don't like reading romance. We just want romance along WITH the spice.
Second try for this author, and I'm giving up. Nothing but smut and melodrama. I can't get over the immense feeling of immaturity of the FMC. Knee jerk character reactions that never feel like a realistic response. No character development, no romance, it's just non stop sex that is trying so hard to be taboo but literally had me rolling my eyes and laughing out loud. This type of writing is what I call the sledgehammer approach: leaving nothing up to your reader's interpretation and relying ONLY on throwing something random and "taboo" in to shock a reaction out of you. It doesnt require skill or finesse. It's amateur hour, plain and simple.
Edit: me writing this review well aware I'm about to be the butt of jokes about one star reviews complaining about too much sex. But let me be clear, in the romance community of 2023 where smut and spice are the only checkmarks required for "good romance" anyone wanting actual romance instead of only smut gets a bit of derision sent their way, but that does not mean we don't like reading romance. We just want romance along WITH the spice.
November 5, 2022
So hot and so angsty and so good and I'm SO OBSESSED. This is a dad's best friend, age gap, second chance romance and I was hooked from the beginning. JP and Whitney had a secret relationship that they ended three years ago (it started when the heroine was 18). JP broke Whitney's heart and moved away. Now, Whitney is engaged and JP is back in town determined to win her back. I was obsessed with how adamant JP was that Whitney was the love of his life. He didn't care she was engaged or that they hadn't seen each other in three years. He's here to show her it's real and he's the one she should be marrying. What complicates things, though, is that JP has been best friends with Whintey's parents since college, so even if they get back together, they need to deal with that conflict. BUT THE TENSIONNNNNN. It was everything. I needed Whitney to just give into JP because it was clear they were made for each other. I love a good messy romance too, so just know there is cheating in here because Whitney is definitely engaged when she starts to question whether she could really be back with JP.
QB Tyler knows how to bring the steam and angst and emotion and this book just had it all. I even felt myself tearing up when the scenes with her parents got to a certain point. Both JP and Whitney were super close to them, but they know their relationship will for sure have negative repercussions on their relationships with each other. I loved how realistic those repercussions were and all of the characters had to pay consequences for their actions.
This is definitely one of my new favorite QB Tyler books and I could not put it down. So much taboo goodness and SO MUCH ANGST. Literally everything I love and you have to pick it up!!
QB Tyler knows how to bring the steam and angst and emotion and this book just had it all. I even felt myself tearing up when the scenes with her parents got to a certain point. Both JP and Whitney were super close to them, but they know their relationship will for sure have negative repercussions on their relationships with each other. I loved how realistic those repercussions were and all of the characters had to pay consequences for their actions.
This is definitely one of my new favorite QB Tyler books and I could not put it down. So much taboo goodness and SO MUCH ANGST. Literally everything I love and you have to pick it up!!
November 12, 2022
this could have been so much more angsty than it was. the angst was right there to be drawn out. it had the makings of soul-crushing angst and tension...
but eurgh, Q. B. Tyler decided to go the easy route and have them getting back together at 36% while the rest of the book was just unnecessary drama that i did not give a single fuck about lmao.
id rather her have focused on the angst of the tropes— second chance romance, dad’s best friend/godfather, the h engaged to someone else. but no. it was all kinda skimmed over and just not utilised like it could have been in favour of baseless drama.
but luckily Jacob Price saved the day because that man. i low-key don’t blame Whitney for giving in so quickly because i would, too, tbh.
Q. B. Tyler’s sexiest hero to date, i fear.
it just wasn’t as forbidden and intense as it could have been. don’t get me wrong, i loved the way JP and Whitney loved each other— the man worships the ground she walks on. i just expect more from a second chance romance. this was too easy.
i wanted JP to be willing to throw himself in front of a bus for her. i wanted the kind of grovelling that has you pulling your hair out. and it was disappointing because i know full well that man would have actually thrown himself in front of a bus if she had asked... she just gave in too easily.
‘‘twas good though. just slightly missed the mark :(
but eurgh, Q. B. Tyler decided to go the easy route and have them getting back together at 36% while the rest of the book was just unnecessary drama that i did not give a single fuck about lmao.
id rather her have focused on the angst of the tropes— second chance romance, dad’s best friend/godfather, the h engaged to someone else. but no. it was all kinda skimmed over and just not utilised like it could have been in favour of baseless drama.
but luckily Jacob Price saved the day because that man. i low-key don’t blame Whitney for giving in so quickly because i would, too, tbh.
”What I feel for you is deeper than love, Whitney.” Oh. He lies on his back and stares at the ceiling. “Devotion. Obsession.” He sighs. “Telling you I love you doesn’t seem to feel enough. The fact that I feel so out of control with need for you when I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s going to cause a catastrophic response and yet I don’t fucking care.” He turns his head toward me. “I just want you. I need you. I feel you underneath my skin every second. I felt you in every painful beat of my heart when we were apart.”
Q. B. Tyler’s sexiest hero to date, i fear.
it just wasn’t as forbidden and intense as it could have been. don’t get me wrong, i loved the way JP and Whitney loved each other— the man worships the ground she walks on. i just expect more from a second chance romance. this was too easy.
i wanted JP to be willing to throw himself in front of a bus for her. i wanted the kind of grovelling that has you pulling your hair out. and it was disappointing because i know full well that man would have actually thrown himself in front of a bus if she had asked... she just gave in too easily.
‘‘twas good though. just slightly missed the mark :(
November 16, 2022
Did I read this book in one go? Yes.
Am I currently a puddle of feelings over Whitney and JP? Also yes.
I tried SO HARD not to binge this all at once, but like all of QB’s other books I just couldn’t make myself stop.
Full review to come, just know you’re only plans on November 10th should be to read this book!!
Updating to add:
1. If this is your first QB Tyler book, buckle up buttercup. You’re about to fall down the rabbit hole that is her backlist of sinfully sexy taboo stories (sprinkled with a couple not taboo but no less sexy / angsty)
2. In case you were wondering, I’M STILL A PUDDLE OF FEELINGS
The love Whitney and JP have for each other even after how much time had passed gives me all the warm fuzzy heart feelings. I really loved seeing the flashback scenes to when they were sneaking around years before. 🫶🏻 and the present day sneaking around… 🔥
The back and forth of will they/won’t they (which we all knew was a matter of WHEN and not IF), their banter, chemistry, dynamic, and the constant fear of them getting caught before they could come clean on their own…. it’s really no surprise I couldn’t stop reading. My heart was pounding for the last 25% just waiting for the shoe to drop.
Not a single thing played out how I expected even though I’ve been reading QB’s books for years. It takes a special kind of talent to have as many books as she does and still be able to surprise her readers.
I could ramble on and on about how much I loved this book and all the reasons why, but I’ll end with this: if you love taboo stories, you’ll love What Was Meant To Be. It has age gap, parents best friend/godfather, daddy kink, and second chance romance 💕
Am I currently a puddle of feelings over Whitney and JP? Also yes.
I tried SO HARD not to binge this all at once, but like all of QB’s other books I just couldn’t make myself stop.
Full review to come, just know you’re only plans on November 10th should be to read this book!!
Updating to add:
1. If this is your first QB Tyler book, buckle up buttercup. You’re about to fall down the rabbit hole that is her backlist of sinfully sexy taboo stories (sprinkled with a couple not taboo but no less sexy / angsty)
2. In case you were wondering, I’M STILL A PUDDLE OF FEELINGS
The love Whitney and JP have for each other even after how much time had passed gives me all the warm fuzzy heart feelings. I really loved seeing the flashback scenes to when they were sneaking around years before. 🫶🏻 and the present day sneaking around… 🔥
The back and forth of will they/won’t they (which we all knew was a matter of WHEN and not IF), their banter, chemistry, dynamic, and the constant fear of them getting caught before they could come clean on their own…. it’s really no surprise I couldn’t stop reading. My heart was pounding for the last 25% just waiting for the shoe to drop.
Not a single thing played out how I expected even though I’ve been reading QB’s books for years. It takes a special kind of talent to have as many books as she does and still be able to surprise her readers.
I could ramble on and on about how much I loved this book and all the reasons why, but I’ll end with this: if you love taboo stories, you’ll love What Was Meant To Be. It has age gap, parents best friend/godfather, daddy kink, and second chance romance 💕
November 15, 2022
....Was Actually NOT Meant To Be
FUCK EACH AND EVERY CHARACTER in this book.
MAINLY THE FMC and the mmc.
They deserve every worse thing i can think of and more.
EVERY FUCKING THING WAS A JOKE IN THIS.
EVERY FUCKING CONFLICT WAS A JOKE.
THIS STORY IS A JOKE.
Midway through the story, i was so sure that my review would be an order of my thoughts and exact points of my dislike about each matter but by the freaking end, i am filled with this hatred that for the life of me, i simply cannot explain and speak coherently about the things i hated.
It's a good thing i HATED EVERYTHING. No need to pinpoint the specifics. I just don't have the energy.
FUCK EACH AND EVERY CHARACTER in this book.
MAINLY THE FMC and the mmc.
They deserve every worse thing i can think of and more.
EVERY FUCKING THING WAS A JOKE IN THIS.
EVERY FUCKING CONFLICT WAS A JOKE.
THIS STORY IS A JOKE.
Midway through the story, i was so sure that my review would be an order of my thoughts and exact points of my dislike about each matter but by the freaking end, i am filled with this hatred that for the life of me, i simply cannot explain and speak coherently about the things i hated.
It's a good thing i HATED EVERYTHING. No need to pinpoint the specifics. I just don't have the energy.
June 28, 2024
DNF’d @ 11%
I’m sorry to whoever liked it but I just couldn’t get into this book for some reason. But I have proof that it’s not me and it’s in fact this book and her name is Nadia. Girl I’m so sorry our first BR died a horrible death 😭
I’m sorry to whoever liked it but I just couldn’t get into this book for some reason. But I have proof that it’s not me and it’s in fact this book and her name is Nadia. Girl I’m so sorry our first BR died a horrible death 😭
November 19, 2022
QB Tyler NEVER misses with her steam 🥵
This is a filthy hot second chance romance between a girl and her godfather/parents’ best friend. They fell in love when she was 18 but he broke her heart two years later because of the lies and secrecy. Fast forward three years later and she’s engaged but he wants her back…
This is a filthy hot second chance romance between a girl and her godfather/parents’ best friend. They fell in love when she was 18 but he broke her heart two years later because of the lies and secrecy. Fast forward three years later and she’s engaged but he wants her back…
Want to read
July 28, 2022AHHHHHHHHHHHH i already know i'll love this bc:
1. DAD's best friend/ godfather !!!
2. angst
3. SECOND chance
november pls hurry up
1. DAD's best friend/ godfather !!!
2. angst
3. SECOND chance
november pls hurry up
November 12, 2022
Damn damn damnnnnn🥵 this is it!! QB does taboo so freaking well I could cry.
Full review to come
Full review to come
November 1, 2022
5/5⭐️ 4/5🌶
Reading QB is like coming home for me, I love everything she writes and this one was no different.
•forbidden
•large age gap
•godfather/goddaughter
•second chance
•angsty
I finished this book in one day, I inhaled it!
Whitney has always had a crush on her godfather Jacob. When she’s 18, she makes a move and convinces him to start a tryst.
Jacob ends the relationship. 3 years later, Whitney is engaged to someone else and Jacob is back to claim what’s his.
Reading QB is like coming home for me, I love everything she writes and this one was no different.
•forbidden
•large age gap
•godfather/goddaughter
•second chance
•angsty
I finished this book in one day, I inhaled it!
Whitney has always had a crush on her godfather Jacob. When she’s 18, she makes a move and convinces him to start a tryst.
Jacob ends the relationship. 3 years later, Whitney is engaged to someone else and Jacob is back to claim what’s his.
January 3, 2023
this woman never fails !!
like this was crack, I couldn’t put it down yet also didn’t want it to enddd
qb tyler is the queen of taboo in my eyes and she has again proven again why she, rightfully so, earned that title.
I need a Jacob Price in my life ASAP
like this was crack, I couldn’t put it down yet also didn’t want it to enddd
qb tyler is the queen of taboo in my eyes and she has again proven again why she, rightfully so, earned that title.
I need a Jacob Price in my life ASAP
August 11, 2024
“I hold it out for him to see and just as I begin to pray that he won’t grab my hand, warm skin presses against mine. He rubs his thumb over my knuckles and the ring on my finger. “Hmmm, not what I would have picked for you.”
1. Creepy ✅ : he is her Godfather 🤷🏻♀️
2. Hot ✅
3. Taboo ✅
4. DELICIUS ✅ YESSSSS
It’s totally worth the reading!
1. Creepy ✅ : he is her Godfather 🤷🏻♀️
2. Hot ✅
3. Taboo ✅
4. DELICIUS ✅ YESSSSS
It’s totally worth the reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2022
the star is only for the heat
There are romances that make you tingle from inside out and then there are romances that make your blood boil from anger. This was the latter.
The hero (in his 40s, godfather to the h, the first person to hold her after she was born) sees the transformation of the heroine, who just turned 18 and apparently also a sexy seductress, because for our hero she's goddaughter no longer, but a WOMAN 🤷
Now, Q.B. Tyler can write taboo like no other. There are at least 3 novels of hers, where the couple knew each other when the girl was either a toddler or a child, but the author still managed to show the gradual transformation of platonic feelings into sexual attraction. It was taboo, it was forbidden, it was something you would hate irl, but it was believable. Here, instead of going the familiar route, we see the couple 3 years after their break up. Their initial relationship is shown in weird flashbacks, and there is no explanation or reason, beyond the heroine getting boobs, why and how they could embark on their sex fest.
Now this is the moment I got pissed at the hero, and there was no going back from that. No amount of redeeming could save him in my eyes, but the sad thing is, he didn't even try that hard to redeem himself. So h and H have been fucking for a year, sneaking behind everyone's backs, lying to h's parents, who just happen to be H's life long best friends. H proclaims his love to the h and says he sees marriage and kids in their future. (h is 19 and H ~42-43). Instead of coming clean to their family and friends, and, you know, move towards that bright future of theirs, they proceed to fuck in secret and lie about it to everyone around them for another year.
After TWO years of fucking, the hero breaks up with the heroine, because "we have no future together" (he was just scared telling her parents/his best friends the truth). He moves to Mexico, breaks her heart and they don't have any form of contact for THREE EFFING YEARS!
The first year the heroine was severely depressed, didn't eat properly or take care of herself, drank too much etc. Then she remembered the H's advice and moved on. Met a guy, who was kind to her and started a relationship. Two years later she's planning the wedding with said guy, and our H gets a wedding invitation. He gets pissed and drops everything to come back and "claim his woman back". Apropos, that was the PROLOGUE of this story. Sir, excuse you?! You were the one who left! This behaviour showed me right from the start how selfish, egomaniacal and cruel this man is.
The hero, upon his arrival, tried everything in his power to corner the heroine, to get her alone and talking. He was pissed that she found a new guy and didn't wait for him, disrespected their engagement time and time again and had selfish demands for the heroine.
The latter is not at all fault-free in my eyes. If she was innocent in the debacle that was their relationship prior their break up, she was just as at fault, if not more later on. The girl was engaged, yet cheated the first chance she got. The author tried to justify it by saying that her fiance cheated first, when they only started going out (10 days into their relationship). We were led to believe that Parker (fiance) was controlling, by seeing how often he called the heroine and wanted to know where she was and who she was with. This was shown as creepy, controlling behavior, although when the hero did the same shit, it was sweet and endearing, and caring and protective. We were shown how prone to passive aggressive remarks Parker was, as if any of it was justification for the affair the heroine had behind his back.
There were two voices of reasons in this book, Chloe and Mason, best friend and brother of the heroine respectively. They tried to stop her from having an affair, reminded of her engagement. The friend even said that she should stop drinking, go home, think things through and break up with the fiance BEFORE doing anything with the ex. Sane advice, but does the heroine follow it?
Of course no! She spends 1/3 of the book either drunk or on the way to being drunk, is always horny af for the hero, even in the most ridiculous situations. They still hide their relationship from h's parents, her father is in the house, along with H's brother, and also h's best friend. The heroine keeps drinking upstairs, demands from the hero to "get rid of the father", gets butt naked and runs in that state from the guest room to his room and waits till he gets there and demands to be fucked. While her father is downstairs, waits to talk to her and is concerned for her, because she JUST broke off her engagement 🤡🤡🤡
These are the characters I'm supposed to root for??? They keep behaving like assholes but always finding justifications for it on their heads. To me it's even worse, than if they were outright evil and cruel. At least then they'd have the guts to be honest.
The smut could not save this book for me, because once I started despising the couple, there was no saving the situation.
There are romances that make you tingle from inside out and then there are romances that make your blood boil from anger. This was the latter.
The hero (in his 40s, godfather to the h, the first person to hold her after she was born) sees the transformation of the heroine, who just turned 18 and apparently also a sexy seductress, because for our hero she's goddaughter no longer, but a WOMAN 🤷
Now, Q.B. Tyler can write taboo like no other. There are at least 3 novels of hers, where the couple knew each other when the girl was either a toddler or a child, but the author still managed to show the gradual transformation of platonic feelings into sexual attraction. It was taboo, it was forbidden, it was something you would hate irl, but it was believable. Here, instead of going the familiar route, we see the couple 3 years after their break up. Their initial relationship is shown in weird flashbacks, and there is no explanation or reason, beyond the heroine getting boobs, why and how they could embark on their sex fest.
Now this is the moment I got pissed at the hero, and there was no going back from that. No amount of redeeming could save him in my eyes, but the sad thing is, he didn't even try that hard to redeem himself. So h and H have been fucking for a year, sneaking behind everyone's backs, lying to h's parents, who just happen to be H's life long best friends. H proclaims his love to the h and says he sees marriage and kids in their future. (h is 19 and H ~42-43). Instead of coming clean to their family and friends, and, you know, move towards that bright future of theirs, they proceed to fuck in secret and lie about it to everyone around them for another year.
After TWO years of fucking, the hero breaks up with the heroine, because "we have no future together" (he was just scared telling her parents/his best friends the truth). He moves to Mexico, breaks her heart and they don't have any form of contact for THREE EFFING YEARS!
The first year the heroine was severely depressed, didn't eat properly or take care of herself, drank too much etc. Then she remembered the H's advice and moved on. Met a guy, who was kind to her and started a relationship. Two years later she's planning the wedding with said guy, and our H gets a wedding invitation. He gets pissed and drops everything to come back and "claim his woman back". Apropos, that was the PROLOGUE of this story. Sir, excuse you?! You were the one who left! This behaviour showed me right from the start how selfish, egomaniacal and cruel this man is.
The hero, upon his arrival, tried everything in his power to corner the heroine, to get her alone and talking. He was pissed that she found a new guy and didn't wait for him, disrespected their engagement time and time again and had selfish demands for the heroine.
The latter is not at all fault-free in my eyes. If she was innocent in the debacle that was their relationship prior their break up, she was just as at fault, if not more later on. The girl was engaged, yet cheated the first chance she got. The author tried to justify it by saying that her fiance cheated first, when they only started going out (10 days into their relationship). We were led to believe that Parker (fiance) was controlling, by seeing how often he called the heroine and wanted to know where she was and who she was with. This was shown as creepy, controlling behavior, although when the hero did the same shit, it was sweet and endearing, and caring and protective. We were shown how prone to passive aggressive remarks Parker was, as if any of it was justification for the affair the heroine had behind his back.
There were two voices of reasons in this book, Chloe and Mason, best friend and brother of the heroine respectively. They tried to stop her from having an affair, reminded of her engagement. The friend even said that she should stop drinking, go home, think things through and break up with the fiance BEFORE doing anything with the ex. Sane advice, but does the heroine follow it?
Of course no! She spends 1/3 of the book either drunk or on the way to being drunk, is always horny af for the hero, even in the most ridiculous situations. They still hide their relationship from h's parents, her father is in the house, along with H's brother, and also h's best friend. The heroine keeps drinking upstairs, demands from the hero to "get rid of the father", gets butt naked and runs in that state from the guest room to his room and waits till he gets there and demands to be fucked. While her father is downstairs, waits to talk to her and is concerned for her, because she JUST broke off her engagement 🤡🤡🤡
These are the characters I'm supposed to root for??? They keep behaving like assholes but always finding justifications for it on their heads. To me it's even worse, than if they were outright evil and cruel. At least then they'd have the guts to be honest.
The smut could not save this book for me, because once I started despising the couple, there was no saving the situation.
Read
November 18, 2022I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. When it comes to forbidden age gaps QB is one of my faves. Unfortunately this is the first one that didn’t work for me.
I know that she’s going through a lot right now so I’ve chosen not to rate my review.
My biggest issue was a lack of editing, reading through this I doubt it saw a proofreader and if it did they were blind.
Honestly this book felt reckless which doesn’t have to be a bad thing but when there’s nothing holding it together it’s all gonna crash and burn.
That last quarter was telenovela level of drama! I mean it was the best part but for some reason it felt like everything was done in bad taste, perhaps done for shock value.
Then that epilogue came out of nowhere and it felt like it was just slapped together with scotch tape. This whole book needs an overhaul.
I know that she’s going through a lot right now so I’ve chosen not to rate my review.
My biggest issue was a lack of editing, reading through this I doubt it saw a proofreader and if it did they were blind.
Honestly this book felt reckless which doesn’t have to be a bad thing but when there’s nothing holding it together it’s all gonna crash and burn.
That last quarter was telenovela level of drama! I mean it was the best part but for some reason it felt like everything was done in bad taste, perhaps done for shock value.
Then that epilogue came out of nowhere and it felt like it was just slapped together with scotch tape. This whole book needs an overhaul.
November 3, 2022
Thank you so much QB for an arc of this BEAUTY🥲
So like now what am I supposed to do with myself now that I’m done with one of my most anticipated books of this fall?!
This was just as amazing and hot as I was hoping for. Truly no one does an age gap / forbidden romance like QB. Jacob and Whitney delivered on every level! The sneaking around, the second chance aspect, the HEAT🥵, the cheating, the messiness, the dads best friend trope, literally everything about them and their story slapped. I would also leave my fiancée for Jacob 🧎♀️
Without giving away anything and this might also be a niche reference, but I found myself wanting someone to pull a Kim Richards Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 during the game night episode when she hid Brandi’s crutches…iykyk…and once you read this I think you’ll understand☠️
Anyways 5/5⭐️ this was 🔥
So like now what am I supposed to do with myself now that I’m done with one of my most anticipated books of this fall?!
This was just as amazing and hot as I was hoping for. Truly no one does an age gap / forbidden romance like QB. Jacob and Whitney delivered on every level! The sneaking around, the second chance aspect, the HEAT🥵, the cheating, the messiness, the dads best friend trope, literally everything about them and their story slapped. I would also leave my fiancée for Jacob 🧎♀️
Without giving away anything and this might also be a niche reference, but I found myself wanting someone to pull a Kim Richards Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 during the game night episode when she hid Brandi’s crutches…iykyk…and once you read this I think you’ll understand☠️
Anyways 5/5⭐️ this was 🔥
June 3, 2025
JP & WHIT >>>
I can no longer say I hate age gaps romances 😩 bc I ATE THIS UPPPP
I can no longer say I hate age gaps romances 😩 bc I ATE THIS UPPPP
January 23, 2023
2.5 stars. This is an age gap forbidden taboo read, between the heroine and her godfather. He’s her parents’ best friend from college, and has been around for her entire life. Their relationship started when she was 18 and he was in his late 30s or early 40s.
Their story is second chance. This book starts when she’s in her 20s, after they had a secret relationship for a few years, then he dumped her out of fear for how her parents would react (and out of a whole, “I’m too old for you!” kind of deal). In the present day, he hears that she’s engaged to another man, and comes back to her town, ready to get her back.
This is a good angsty premise. But it didn’t land, for a few reasons. The first is how the story is told. Most of it is in the present day, when she’s in her 20s. There are italicized flashbacks to how their relationship started and ended the first time around. That structure took away a lot of the angst and tension. The story should have started earlier in their timeline, then taken us through their first relationship and breakup in real time, rather than doing chaotic fragmented flashbacks.
I’m not against a second chance read that starts in the present, then has flashbacks. One of my favorite books, Fearless, does this! But, that book handles the past flashback in one big chunk that’s continuous, NOT a bunch of choppy disjointed segments the way this book does. This book felt too much like we were dropped into the middle of the story and playing catch-up. So it's hard to feel emotionally invested.
The second reason this didn’t work for me is the OM drama. The heroine is engaged to another man, and that plot line is stretched out for WAY too long. She cheats on her fiance with the hero, and agonizes about being a bad person – meanwhile, we’re told that her fiance cheated on HER, and he seems to suck in general. So, it's tiresome seeing her angst about being mean to a guy who sucks and did the same thing to her.
Then, when she's about to dump her bad fiance for the hero, the fiance gets injured. And she doesn’t want to dump him when he’s hurt, so she stays with him for even longer. I rolled my eyes when that happened. It felt like this story was dragging its feet, and prolonging the annoying drama with her fiance for no reason. It didn’t add anything to the story, since there was PLENTY of angst without that OM drama element. I don't know why a taboo/forbidden read ever feels the need to add extra angst from exterior stuff or random side characters. The whole point of this trope is that the angst is baked into the premise! The "What if people find out? How will they react? How will we make this work?" part is more than enough drama and angst on its own!
I did appreciate how when everyone found out about the heroine and her godfather, her parents were NOT like, “Everything is fine!” Their negative reaction felt realistic. So that part was good.
The steam is also decent. Pegging doesn’t do much for me, but if you like that, there’s a scene of it. This isn’t a terrible read, but it could have been a lot better. It hasn't pushed me away from the author entirely. She does do a decent age gap taboo story. This one is just Not It.
Their story is second chance. This book starts when she’s in her 20s, after they had a secret relationship for a few years, then he dumped her out of fear for how her parents would react (and out of a whole, “I’m too old for you!” kind of deal). In the present day, he hears that she’s engaged to another man, and comes back to her town, ready to get her back.
This is a good angsty premise. But it didn’t land, for a few reasons. The first is how the story is told. Most of it is in the present day, when she’s in her 20s. There are italicized flashbacks to how their relationship started and ended the first time around. That structure took away a lot of the angst and tension. The story should have started earlier in their timeline, then taken us through their first relationship and breakup in real time, rather than doing chaotic fragmented flashbacks.
I’m not against a second chance read that starts in the present, then has flashbacks. One of my favorite books, Fearless, does this! But, that book handles the past flashback in one big chunk that’s continuous, NOT a bunch of choppy disjointed segments the way this book does. This book felt too much like we were dropped into the middle of the story and playing catch-up. So it's hard to feel emotionally invested.
The second reason this didn’t work for me is the OM drama. The heroine is engaged to another man, and that plot line is stretched out for WAY too long. She cheats on her fiance with the hero, and agonizes about being a bad person – meanwhile, we’re told that her fiance cheated on HER, and he seems to suck in general. So, it's tiresome seeing her angst about being mean to a guy who sucks and did the same thing to her.
Then, when she's about to dump her bad fiance for the hero, the fiance gets injured. And she doesn’t want to dump him when he’s hurt, so she stays with him for even longer. I rolled my eyes when that happened. It felt like this story was dragging its feet, and prolonging the annoying drama with her fiance for no reason. It didn’t add anything to the story, since there was PLENTY of angst without that OM drama element. I don't know why a taboo/forbidden read ever feels the need to add extra angst from exterior stuff or random side characters. The whole point of this trope is that the angst is baked into the premise! The "What if people find out? How will they react? How will we make this work?" part is more than enough drama and angst on its own!
I did appreciate how when everyone found out about the heroine and her godfather, her parents were NOT like, “Everything is fine!” Their negative reaction felt realistic. So that part was good.
The steam is also decent. Pegging doesn’t do much for me, but if you like that, there’s a scene of it. This isn’t a terrible read, but it could have been a lot better. It hasn't pushed me away from the author entirely. She does do a decent age gap taboo story. This one is just Not It.
avoid
November 26, 2022Self note avoid.
- H - her dads bff - gets fucked in the ass by h using a strap on. 😂
Not something I need to see in a straight romance, no thanks.
- H - her dads bff - gets fucked in the ass by h using a strap on. 😂
Not something I need to see in a straight romance, no thanks.
November 10, 2022
i forgot just how much i loveeee a forbidden romance, especially when QB tyler writes it. disclaimer: this is definitely on the more taboo side (he is her parents’ best friend and her god father), there is also cheating — but not between the two main characters. it was angsty and a little messy and i could not put this book down it was sooo good 🔥
when jacob learns that whitney (his ex) is getting married, he drops everything to go home & try to stop her, despite not seeing her for 3 years. jacob & whitney always kept their relationship a secret in the past bc of his relationship with her parents, but now he’s determined to win her back.
i read this book so fast bc every single chapter was so addicting. it was crazy hot, the tension, the banter, the sneaking around. perfection. jacob is a man obsessedddd and will stop and nothing to get his girl. the drama was all totally worth it to me, i absoloutely loved this one!
when jacob learns that whitney (his ex) is getting married, he drops everything to go home & try to stop her, despite not seeing her for 3 years. jacob & whitney always kept their relationship a secret in the past bc of his relationship with her parents, but now he’s determined to win her back.
i read this book so fast bc every single chapter was so addicting. it was crazy hot, the tension, the banter, the sneaking around. perfection. jacob is a man obsessedddd and will stop and nothing to get his girl. the drama was all totally worth it to me, i absoloutely loved this one!
October 7, 2023
The queen of smutty and evocative age gap taboo does not disappoint- oh my goodness that was spicey! Rife with sexual tension, this is a tantalizing and forbidden tale that sizzles- but it also has a whole lot of tender heart, too. This has all the makings of a story right up my alley- large age gap on the more taboo side, high team, alpha hero, angsty tension, and there was a lot of this story I enjoyed.
I loved the set up of this story- younger 20's heroine recently engaged whose former flame, her father's best friend and her godfather, comes back to claim her before it's too late. The same godfather that she had a secret tryst with for two years where he was her first in heart and body when she was just 18/19. It's a setup with lots of tension, a lot of forbidden vibes, and a set-up that lets us balance forbidden spice with emotional impact. And, the story was entertaining. Both characters are interesting, and the sexual chemistry is through the roof. QB brings out all the smutty deliciousness- and some kinks (some that I must admit are not my thing, but it was fun to read none the less).
What I didn't feel with this story was the emotional connection. And I think in part that was the narrative arc. The story starts mid-story, with these two already having fallen in love and broken apart. The reunite quickly and face a bunch of obstacle- her family, her controlling fiancé, worries about busting up years of friendship, their past issues. We focus so much on the external issues that we don't really see them fall back in love -it's just assumed they are, and the flashbacks don't really provide the emotional connection I was craving. It makes for a spicy, page turning read- even if I didn't quite feel the emotional chemistry or non-physical romance between these two, didn't really understand even why they were in love to begin with, and for a longer read, I just expected more connection. But, the spice alone makes it fun and worth enjoying.
I loved the set up of this story- younger 20's heroine recently engaged whose former flame, her father's best friend and her godfather, comes back to claim her before it's too late. The same godfather that she had a secret tryst with for two years where he was her first in heart and body when she was just 18/19. It's a setup with lots of tension, a lot of forbidden vibes, and a set-up that lets us balance forbidden spice with emotional impact. And, the story was entertaining. Both characters are interesting, and the sexual chemistry is through the roof. QB brings out all the smutty deliciousness- and some kinks (some that I must admit are not my thing, but it was fun to read none the less).
What I didn't feel with this story was the emotional connection. And I think in part that was the narrative arc. The story starts mid-story, with these two already having fallen in love and broken apart. The reunite quickly and face a bunch of obstacle- her family, her controlling fiancé, worries about busting up years of friendship, their past issues. We focus so much on the external issues that we don't really see them fall back in love -it's just assumed they are, and the flashbacks don't really provide the emotional connection I was craving. It makes for a spicy, page turning read- even if I didn't quite feel the emotional chemistry or non-physical romance between these two, didn't really understand even why they were in love to begin with, and for a longer read, I just expected more connection. But, the spice alone makes it fun and worth enjoying.
November 10, 2022
No one does forbidden romance like QB Tyler, and What Was Meant To Be is no exception.
JP is Whitney's godfather and her parents' best friend since college. He practically helped raise her. When she turns 18, Whitney decides to act on the feelings she's had for JP for years on a drunken night. Thus begins their secret tryst, until he breaks things off and leaves town to preserve his friendship with her parents.
Three years later, Whitney is engaged. JP isn't having any of that, so guess who comes to town? Certainly not Santa.
This book was perfection, top to bottom. I was rooting for Whitney and JP the whole time, even when their actions meandered into morally grey territory. Every character was so vibrant, by the end of the book I truly felt like they were all my friends and family. I loved Whitney's close relationship with her parents, almost leaning toward a Rory & Lorelai Gilmore besties situation.
If you're in need of something so spicy it will make your whole body blush, this is the book for you. Spiciest read I've encountered in a while, and that's saying something. JP and Whitney have INSANE chemistry, and their bodies are perfectly in tune with one another. There's no fear, no weirdness, no shy reintroductions--only pure want. And I have a strong feeling the pegging scene will stick with me for quite a while...
Highly recommend this!!
JP is Whitney's godfather and her parents' best friend since college. He practically helped raise her. When she turns 18, Whitney decides to act on the feelings she's had for JP for years on a drunken night. Thus begins their secret tryst, until he breaks things off and leaves town to preserve his friendship with her parents.
Three years later, Whitney is engaged. JP isn't having any of that, so guess who comes to town? Certainly not Santa.
This book was perfection, top to bottom. I was rooting for Whitney and JP the whole time, even when their actions meandered into morally grey territory. Every character was so vibrant, by the end of the book I truly felt like they were all my friends and family. I loved Whitney's close relationship with her parents, almost leaning toward a Rory & Lorelai Gilmore besties situation.
If you're in need of something so spicy it will make your whole body blush, this is the book for you. Spiciest read I've encountered in a while, and that's saying something. JP and Whitney have INSANE chemistry, and their bodies are perfectly in tune with one another. There's no fear, no weirdness, no shy reintroductions--only pure want. And I have a strong feeling the pegging scene will stick with me for quite a while...
Highly recommend this!!
November 15, 2022
Was expecting a lot more angst with this one but sadly I didn't get it. Ok quick steamy read.
July 5, 2025
Whew, this was SPICCCYYYY. My god. And umm excuse me—Jacob’s mouth???…. Fuckinnng hellllllll. I mean yeah, if I was Whitney, I probably would’ve folded immediately too because damn he was hot as hell 😭
This was a forbidden, age gap, parent’s bestfriend, and second chance romance. And if you’re not a fan of the cheating trope, do NOT add this to your tbr 😂 (fmc & mmc cheat with each other, not on each other).
This was not a literary masterpiece by anyyyy means, but it was messy & entertaining lmao
However, there were some things that I do wish were done differently:
1. Parker shouldn’t have been out of town in the beginning (or really, the whole book). We needed some angst & yearning of Whitney & Parker being together in front of Jacob. He never once saw them together as a couple in person and I feel like that was such a missed opportunity to see him losing his mind while not being able to do anything about it!!
2. It was around like 37% that they hook up for the first time again and I wanted the angst to drag out a little longer. But given the storyline, it was still ok since it wasn’t insta love.
3. I feel like there could’ve been a lot more done with the storyline in terms of drama between Whitney’s relationship and Jacob. We got a bunch of little flashbacks of them in the past, but I don’t think we needed as many. If we got more of Parker/Whitney wedding drama mixed in, this would’ve been probably like a 4.5 star read because I was honestly eating it up
This was a forbidden, age gap, parent’s bestfriend, and second chance romance. And if you’re not a fan of the cheating trope, do NOT add this to your tbr 😂 (fmc & mmc cheat with each other, not on each other).
This was not a literary masterpiece by anyyyy means, but it was messy & entertaining lmao
However, there were some things that I do wish were done differently:
1. Parker shouldn’t have been out of town in the beginning (or really, the whole book). We needed some angst & yearning of Whitney & Parker being together in front of Jacob. He never once saw them together as a couple in person and I feel like that was such a missed opportunity to see him losing his mind while not being able to do anything about it!!
2. It was around like 37% that they hook up for the first time again and I wanted the angst to drag out a little longer. But given the storyline, it was still ok since it wasn’t insta love.
3. I feel like there could’ve been a lot more done with the storyline in terms of drama between Whitney’s relationship and Jacob. We got a bunch of little flashbacks of them in the past, but I don’t think we needed as many. If we got more of Parker/Whitney wedding drama mixed in, this would’ve been probably like a 4.5 star read because I was honestly eating it up
June 15, 2023
4.5 stars! What Was Meant to Be is the newest from Q.B. Tyler and easily became my new favorite from her! The way she writes forbidden, age gaps is just so good and I could not get enough of Whitney and JP.
This delivered on all the things: second chance, angst, the mutual pining, age gap (20+ year age difference), dad’s best friend (he’s actually both of her parents best friend). It’s messy because the heroine is engaged when the story starts and there is cheating (just not cheating between the H and h). The forbidden aspect of him being her godfather and in her life for forever was so good. The tension and the flashbacks worked so well in this one for me! I loved how we would see glimpses of flashbacks and different moments in their relationship over the years. And the steam…Q.B. brought it all, including some pegging. 👀🔥 I just had a great time with this read!
I received an e-ARC from the author, all thoughts in this review are my own. This book has a release date of November 10, 2022.
This delivered on all the things: second chance, angst, the mutual pining, age gap (20+ year age difference), dad’s best friend (he’s actually both of her parents best friend). It’s messy because the heroine is engaged when the story starts and there is cheating (just not cheating between the H and h). The forbidden aspect of him being her godfather and in her life for forever was so good. The tension and the flashbacks worked so well in this one for me! I loved how we would see glimpses of flashbacks and different moments in their relationship over the years. And the steam…Q.B. brought it all, including some pegging. 👀🔥 I just had a great time with this read!
I received an e-ARC from the author, all thoughts in this review are my own. This book has a release date of November 10, 2022.
October 3, 2022
Early read! *no spoilers*
Hands Down my favorite QB Tyler Book.
I loved everything about it! I didn't put it down once I read.
What you never have to worry about is Miss Qb bringing on the heat, and this book does have the heat and hells bells the taboo. But also It had to perfect capture of a story line that made you falll in love with every character.
Second chance romance is my favorite.... and she hit all the points with that reminds me why I fall in love with this troupe all over again.
I loved all the characters and the perfect bonds they had. I even loved to hate one of them... 😁 again no spoilers, even though I want to shot it from the roof tops how good it is, but you got to get it!!
I will be bugging QB for more of these future secondary characters in the future (she knows I'm good for it) because she did such a good job bringing there story to life, I was craving to know more of Chole and Trey as much as JP and Whitney.
So if you love Age Gap, dad-best friend...second chance..etc
This is definitely for you..
Grab it on release day.
Hands Down my favorite QB Tyler Book.
I loved everything about it! I didn't put it down once I read.
What you never have to worry about is Miss Qb bringing on the heat, and this book does have the heat and hells bells the taboo. But also It had to perfect capture of a story line that made you falll in love with every character.
Second chance romance is my favorite.... and she hit all the points with that reminds me why I fall in love with this troupe all over again.
I loved all the characters and the perfect bonds they had. I even loved to hate one of them... 😁 again no spoilers, even though I want to shot it from the roof tops how good it is, but you got to get it!!
I will be bugging QB for more of these future secondary characters in the future (she knows I'm good for it) because she did such a good job bringing there story to life, I was craving to know more of Chole and Trey as much as JP and Whitney.
So if you love Age Gap, dad-best friend...second chance..etc
This is definitely for you..
Grab it on release day.
November 11, 2022
QB has never once disappointed me. She ALWAYS nails the best aspect of forbidden romance, how much her couples love each other. It takes a lot of hot undeniable chemistry and unending devotion to overcome an obstacle as big as “he’s my god father”, and she never fails to write a love and chemistry that is so believable and beautiful that you can’t help but think “ya it makes sense that she’s doing this”. I always route for her characters to get the happy ending they deserve. These two were amazing, there was cheating but not on one another. Whitney is in a shitty relationship with a douchebag you definitely will not cheer for, and when Jacob hears that she’s engaged to him after spending 3 years away trying to forget how much he loves her, he comes back and quickly puts an end to THAT. These two are made for one another, and it shows. Also, she pegs him. That’s the cherry on top for me 💅🏼
November 13, 2022
Updated Review: 4.0⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Please read cw/tw this book is definitely not for everyone. But let’s just say my fantasies were fulfilled lol. I may recommend this to my mom (she’s starting her spice era). Will she hate me after? Maybe ahahaha
Yessssssssssss!!!! Confession time I have a thing for my dad's bff…. so I can't wait to live through QB's words vicariously. Please dont come for me😂
Please read cw/tw this book is definitely not for everyone. But let’s just say my fantasies were fulfilled lol. I may recommend this to my mom (she’s starting her spice era). Will she hate me after? Maybe ahahaha
Yessssssssssss!!!! Confession time I have a thing for my dad's bff…. so I can't wait to live through QB's words vicariously. Please dont come for me😂
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