Tegan is a late bloomer and although she finally secured a job as a therapist, she’s almost 30 and only pre-license. This means that she’s still laughably behind her old classmates and eating boxed mac and cheese weekly. So on her first night in Buffalo, NY, Tegan lets her best friend talk her into going out on the town for her last weekend of being unemployed. She expects to have one decidedly oversweet drink, a nice meal, and be in bed by 9. Instead, she finds a sexy older woman who seems to get Tegan in a way nobody ever has. After an amazing but one-off night together she feels ready to begin her new life. However, when Tegan realizes the woman she slept with is a part of the team that decides the status of her license her entire future crashes in front of her eyes. Talk about a conflict of interest! Can Tegan salvage her career before it has even begun or will her pull towards Brooke prove too much for a workplace relationship?

Brooke is tired of the same routine with the same people. Although she loves them dearly, something is missing in her life and she just can’t put her finger on it. So when a beautiful young stranger strikes up a conversation at the bar she finds herself in an unexpected situation. Although Brooke's hesitant to “do casual” as she never has before, the odds of her seeing this woman again are slim to none, so what’s the harm in a little fun? However, when she walks into work the following Monday and finds her boss's new supervisee staring at her with the same eyes as the woman from the bar she realizes stepping out of her comfort zone may have been a mistake. Can Brooke hide her feelings long enough for Tegan to move on to a different practice? Or will she find exactly what she was looking for in someone she never thought to look for? All that and more in Informed Consent.

What a romance! This was an emotional read, but not in a sappy overly done 90s rom-com way. The emotions felt grounded in reality and between the themes of found family, forgiveness, and healing mixed with the chemistry and enticing plot, I was hooked! It wasn’t cheesy and it didn’t overcompensate by being excessively serious or trying to change the world of romance. The characters get under your skin and the various tough spots they experienced felt like places we could all genuinely find ourselves in. If you enjoy deep emotional connections and mature romances you are in for a treat!

Brooke is a character I relate to and am attracted to. Her innate sense of being lures you into a feeling of security immediately. She is such a comforting and genuine person that you forget she has insecurities, especially when you are in Tegan’s POV. And she consistently makes choices that align with her morals, unless she lets herself be influenced by external forces. This character design works so well because we have all met, or been a Brooke at one point in life. Sometimes it truly does take a person on the outside to push one out of their comfort zone, otherwise, they’ll keep making the same decisions. This is a main theme of the book that truly shines through in its characters. Brooke’s well-rounded nature leaves room for “less desirable” traits such as being neurotic and stubborn. But the way that Tegan sees, accepts, and soothes those sides of Brooke lends well to the genuine credibility of their connection.

Tegan is a character I enjoyed less but in an important way as her character is someone who I would struggle to understand in real life. My ongoing annoyance at her choices shows that she has great characterization and takes action in line with who she is. Although until the middle of the book, she is annoying and immature, as her confidence develops she comes into herself personally and professionally.

The plot is designed for this type of growth and works well for the character's internal and external goals. Tegan is trying to become a licensed therapist and heal from abandonment wounds. Brooke is trying to find the spark in her professional life again and let go emotionally. And since both of their external goals are quickly derailed by the one-night stand they have to spend the rest of the book working together to put the pieces back. This in turn helps them with their internal goals as Brooke brings stability and understanding into Tegan’s life and Tegan helps Brooke stay out of her head and be present in the moment. Alongside them unknowingly cementing their queer-found family and dealing with difficult clients as therapists in Buffalo.

My only critique is the pacing. I found myself skimming in the middle and there were a few filler scenes that left me with no further insight into the characters or plot. This did bump it from a potential 5-star read to a 4.5-star, in my opinion, but I still highly recommend the book.

All in all, this heartwarming and slow-burn romance is a must-read. From one-bed tension to raw emotional confessions, you’ll be itching to find out what’s next. Not to mention wishing you could book a session with any of these therapists. If you like grounded romances with a surprising level of spice you are in the right place. Happy reading!

TW: Alcohol, anxiety, attempted murder, cheating, divorce, misogyny, sexually explicit scenes, and violence.

Thanks so much to Rachel Spangler for sending me this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.