Mistakes Were Made: A Novel

by Meryl Wilsner

Overview

"This blazing-hot forbidden romance manages to sensibly, and compassionately, capture the complexities of starting adult life after college and finding love and your identity in middle age. Cassie and Erin’s romance is by turns delightfully raunchy and deeply emotional. This reader hopes Wilsner keeps these scorchers coming." - The Washington Post

“[Wilsner writes] erotic yearning in a class all their own.” - Entertainment Weekly

From Meryl Wilsner, the acclaimed author of Something to Talk About, comes Mistakes Were Made, a sharp and sexy rom-com about a college senior who accidentally hooks up with her best friend’s mom.

When Cassie Klein goes to an off-campus bar to escape her school’s Family Weekend, she isn’t looking for a hookup—it just happens. Buying a drink for a stranger turns into what should be an uncomplicated, amazing one-night stand. But then the next morning rolls around and her friend drags her along to meet her mom—the hot, older woman Cassie slept with.

Erin Bennett came to Family Weekend to get closer to her daughter, not have a one-night stand with a college senior. In her defense, she hadn’t known Cassie was a student when they'd met. To make things worse, Erin’s daughter brings Cassie to breakfast the next morning. And despite Erin's better judgement—how could sleeping with your daughter’s friend be anything but bad?—she and Cassie get along in the day just as well as they did last night.

What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?

"Wilsner proves their serious romance range with a sophomore novel that laughs in the slow-burning face of their debut by kicking off with a hookup that'll have you fanning your face for days." - Buzzfeed

“A steaming hot, thoughtful story about all kinds of love, featuring a firecracker of a couple that’s impossible not to root for.” - Women's Health

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250841001
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/11/2022
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	4,056
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

MERYL WILSNER writes happily ever afters for queer folks who love women. They are the author of Something to Talk About and Mistakes Were Made. Born in Michigan, Meryl lived in Portland, Oregon and Jackson, Mississippi before returning to the Mitten State. Some of Meryl's favorite things include: all four seasons, button down shirts, the way giraffes run, and their wife.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2022

Wilsner (Something to Talk About) puts a queer spin on the concept of the MILF in this hilarious, high-heat rom-com. College senior and aspiring aerospace engineer Cassie, 21, picks up medical doctor Erin, 38, at a bar. After parting ways, both women are shocked when they’re reunited at breakfast by Parker, Erin’s daughter and Cassie’s freshman friend. The whole affair should end there, but things heat up further over winter break when Cassie goes to stay with Parker, putting her and Erin under the same roof—and unable to resist temptation. Though they both feel crushing guilt about sneaking around behind Parker’s back and harbor reservations about entering a relationship, they struggle to keep their hands off each other. To make the dynamic work, Wilsner has to sell the off-the-charts chemistry—and succeeds in spades, producing some toe-curling sex scenes. The emotional slow-burn runs perhaps a bit too far behind the sexual fast-burn, but the women’s baggage is fleshed out just enough that, while their emotional constipation remains frustrating, it is at least believable. It feels inevitable that their lies will blow up in their faces, but instead Wilsner takes an unexpected route that may leave some readers slightly unsatisfied. Still, by coupling raunchy humor and genuine connection, Wilsner’s sophomore outing offers plenty to love. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

An October Indie Next Pick!

A LibraryReads pick for October 2022!

One of the Washington Post's Best Romance Novels of 2022!

One of Buzzfeed's Best Books of 2022!

"Speaking of bangers: Mistakes Were Made is what the author, Meryl Wilsner, describes as their MILF book, a Sapphic age-gap romance where a brash college senior (Cassie) unwittingly hooks up with her best friend’s divorced mom (Erin) before Family Weekend... this one struck just right, with a mix of college-party shenanigans and family-holiday pressure that felt real enough to relate to but escapist enough to enjoy." - The New York Times

"This blazing-hot forbidden romance manages to sensibly, and compassionately, capture the complexities of starting adult life after college and finding love and your identity in middle age. Cassie and Erin’s romance is by turns delightfully raunchy and deeply emotional. This reader hopes Wilsner keeps these scorchers coming." - The Washington Post

“[Wilsner writes] erotic yearning in a class all their own.” - Entertainment Weekly

"Wilsner proves their serious romance range with a sophomore that laughs in the slow-burning face of their debut by kicking off with a hookup that'll have you fanning your face for days." - Buzzfeed

“A steaming hot, thoughtful story about all kinds of love, featuring a firecracker of a couple that’s impossible not to root for.” - Women's Health

"Wilsner’s steamy, fast-paced secret-lovers contemporary romance features fully realized queer protagonists and secondary characters...It’s not a romantic comedy, but definitely has humor, as well as great dialogue and hot sex scenes." - Library Journal

"A sexy and empowering romance." - Kirkus Reviews

"[T]his is a Meryl Wilsner book we’re talking about, so it’s not all steamy sex scenes and swoonworthy romance. Wilsner also delves deep into the roles of women and the labels society is so quick to throw at them... a necessary and urgent reminder to withhold judgment and celebrate the happiness of others. Because why worry about what you should or shouldn’t do when life is waiting for you to take charge and be happy?" - Bookreporter

"[A] hilarious, high-heat rom-com...by coupling raunchy humor and genuine connection,
Wilsner’s sophomore outing offers plenty to love." - Publishers Weekly

“This book is as fun as you’d expect… The sapphic girlies love its characterization, spice, and forbidden romance.” - Book Riot

“[MISTAKES WERE MADE] wooed me thoroughly." - Paste Magazine

“It can be hard to figure out what books are worth spending your time and money on when there are so many recommendations and only so many hours in a day.I am writing this article to try to convince you that ‘Mistakes Were Made’ by Meryl Wilsner is one of those books you need to add to your list.” - Her Campus, "Why You Should Add MISTAKES WERE MADE to Your To-Be-Read List"

"This book was hot. A MILF dream, if you will. Wilsner did such a great job of twisting together personal drama with relationship drama so that there was always something going on to keep me turning the pages. I would most definitely read another book by them in the future, and I highly recommend you all read this one when it comes out in October." - Write Through the Night, "Mistakes Were Made Was Fun, Flirty, and Extremely Gay"

“A witty and surprisingly sweet age-gap romcom” - Chatelaine, "16 Fall Books To Warm Up With"

“The MILF Book is hotter than a solar flare.” - AfterEllen.com

“a heartwarming, passionate romantic comedy… Wilsner writes a story for queer people everywhere to enjoy.” - The Slate, Shippensburg University's student-run newspaper

"Mistakes Were Made is so sexy and compelling, reading it is like being in on the most tantalizing secret. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading, smiling, or blushing. Simply delectable from start to finish." - Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer

"A frothy blend of heart, humor, and steam, this story about accepting love and embracing the unexpected will stay with readers far beyond its happily ever after. A vibrant, intoxicating romance." - Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care

"Mistakes Were Made is an absolute delight, both undeniably sexy and incredibly sweet. The story overflows with warmth, friendship, and humor, and Wilsner skillfully ensures that even when Cassie and Erin make their mistakes—big ones—those mistakes are human and understandable. I was rooting for their happy ending the whole time, and when it arrived, I cried happy tears. I think readers will adore this story, and for good reason." - Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert

"In Mistakes Were Made, Wilsner somehow deftly depicts both the messy, exuberant confusion of college life and the messy, bewildering confusion of middle age. Cassie and Erin's journey is taboo and sexy, but ultimately, it is deeply sweet: a story of how love can, and should, transcend societal expectations." - Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters

"Meryl Wilsner's sophomore novel bursts with charm, humor, and heat. Mistakes Were Made left me smiling from beginning to end and you'll fall in love while rooting for this sexy, forbidden, and adorable love story. Wilsner is a storyteller who gently and perfectly steals your heart and hands it back a little fuller. I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone I know!” - Denise Williams, author of The Fastest Way to Fall

From the Publisher

05/01/2022

In Wilsner's (Something To Talk About) second queer romance, college senior Cassie Klein is avoiding her school's family weekend by drinking alone in a local bar. Alone, that is, until she spots an incredibly attractive older woman, Erin Bennett, who is also drinking by herself. They're soon drinking together, then having sex in Erin's car. Regretfully, Cassie forgets to get Erin's number. With nothing but time to kill over the weekend, she agrees to go to breakfast with her bestie Parker and Parker's mom. Mediating a tense family meal is worth the free waffles. However, it seems Cassie has already met Parker's mom: Erin. And Cassie can't resist flirting a bit. Flirting turns into secretly making out, which turns into calling, and eventually Cassie and Erin are in a relationship. A very secret relationship that Parker can never find out about. VERDICT Wilsner's steamy, fast-paced secret-lovers contemporary romance features fully realized queer protagonists and secondary characters. Told from Erin's and Cassie's perspectives, it gives readers a window into their relationship, in and out of the bedroom. It's not a romantic comedy, but definitely has humor, as well as great dialogue and hot sex scenes. Recommended for general purchase.—Heather Miller Cover

Library Journal

2022-07-08
A college senior sleeps with an older woman she meets at a bar only to learn the next morning that the woman is her new friend’s mom.

When Cassie Klein, a future aerospace engineer, and Erin Bennett, a doctor and mother of a freshman, hook up, it was meant to just be a hot one-night fling between strangers. Erin, in town for Family Weekend, didn’t even know Cassie was a student, let alone the new best friend of her daughter, Parker. But when Parker invites them both to breakfast the next morning, they each learn who the other is and agree that Parker can never find out what happened. Still, the two can’t keep their hands off each other, and what starts as a series of stolen physical moments turns into a genuine connection. They both try to deny the very real feelings developing, but eventually they have to admit the truth not just to the other people in their lives, but to themselves and each other. Wilsner’s second Sapphic romance is the opposite of their slow-burn debut, Something To Talk About (2020): The heat is turned high in numerous spicy scenes. While their physical chemistry is never lacking, Cassie and Erin's romantic journey takes them toward emotional connection as they fall in love despite their worry about other people's judgment, and they decide to pursue what makes them happy. Although the pacing is uneven—some parts of the book lag while some actions or emotions feel too abrupt—strong character development enables readers to understand that Cassie and Erin fall for each other and fit well together despite the taboo nature of their relationship.

A sexy and empowering romance.

Kirkus Reviews