Perks of office is such a good love story! My only complaint is that I wish there was more! I especially love the dynamic between the two women. Sapphics will love this one!

Cute romance about being in power and is afraid of what would happen if the public finds out. This is an age gap where a newly promoted manager falls for new closeted boss. Closed door spice but you don't miss it.

Another fun queer workplace romp navigating the problematic dynamic of a secret employer-employee relationship (why have I read two books like this lately)?

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


I was so excited to see and read this book. I love age-gap romances and to have a same gender loving one, be still my heart. The characters were engaging, and it was a slow building romance with some kinks that needed to be worked out. Emma has a crush on her boss, Bridget who happens to be straight. The crush is something she holds tight to her chest until everything changes. Some will love this book and others will feel it’s bleh. I enjoyed it and look forward to hearing more from the author.

Perks of Office started out strong with an age-gap (although it was only implied, I think Bridgette was maybe 10 years older than Emma, I really can't remember), secretive office romance that delivered on both feelings and spice. But for some reason, the events leading to the breakup and Emma's rebound hookup just really bothered me, as well as Bridgette's "grand gesture" that caused Emma a ton of emotional distress. By the end, I really wasn't rooting for them as a couple. I think if the rebound hookup would have been axed, and Bridgette would have reached out sooner, it would have been redeemed for me. It was fine but I definitely didn't love it.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. There were some things I really liked! Emma’s voice was very engaging, and I liked the various side characters and the friendships they had with each other.

That being said, this book ultimately failed to deliver for me. I just could not find it in myself to root for the romance! We’re told very early on (and kudos for an excellent exposition) that Emma has a massive crush on Bridget, and then… we’re told it again. And again. And there’s a time skip, which I would have loved to actually spend time on, and we’re told it again. Honestly, I felt more chemistry with Emma’s one night stand than with the woman she’s supposedly in love with.

Add in a sprinkle of biphobia and a nickname for one of Emma’s co-workers that made me VERY uncomfortable, this one did not hit the mark for me. It’s such a shame, as the writing itself (bar a couple of moments) was very, very strong.

I will give the author another go, because I did really enjoy her writing style, and perhaps a different romance will be more of a hit with me, but this one was a bit of a disappointment.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

The main characters of this book are Bridget and Emma. Emma is the office manager of the local politician, Bridget Emma soon begins to develop a major crush on her new boss. She thinks it is only one sided and nothing will ever become of it, until one night.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend.
I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Australian electorate officer Emma is totally, utterly infatuated with her new, straight, boss Bridget O’Keefe. Except, maybe Bridget isn’t so straight, and then one night changes everything between them. One political scandal later, and Bridget finds herself leaning on Emma, but she needs to keep their relationship a secret, which is totally fine. Until it’s not. A boss/employee relationship is a terrible idea, but the two can’t seem to stay away from each other. They’ll have to make some changes, or risk losing each other for good.

If you’re looking for a low-stakes, cozy, office romance, this book has got you covered. It’s a tad slow at times, but Emma is a loveable character, and I was rooting for their chemistry, then attraction, then relationship, the whole way. Definitely a light-hearted HEA, if you’re heart needs a little warming this fall, check this one out.

There were things i liked about this book, and there were things i hated. I like that this book didn’t take itself too seriously, and the cast of characters was well thought out, diverse, and entertaining. My main sticking point with this book was that the main conflict was waaaayyyy too major to have been resolved by the end of the book. If you’re looking for fluff, this isn’t the right book but if you want to spend a solid chunk of this novel thinking you’ve picked up one of the sad lesbian novels all the straight people think we have forty seven thousand copies of, only to be a little startled and then resigned when it turns out that was the just the main conflict followed by a third act breakup and the inevitable reunion—then it is the book for you!

representation: filipina side character, white lesbians, gay man side character, woman of color side character

spice: a few very descriptive sec scenes

I really liked this book, at first I was attracted by the cover and title. I started reading this book and did not put it down until I was finished, read it all over a weekend. Great story, great characters, very cute, would definitely recommend!

Age gap, work place, and forbidden romance oh my! When Emma started a new job, she was excited for the growth and leadership opportunities, but what she hadn't counted on was a crush on her very hot boss, the local MP Bridget O'Keefe her office was representing. Perks of Office is a perfect representation of what a steamy age gap romance with a little bit of forbidden love should be. Rain gives the characters time to do a little pining without it becoming the entire plot of the book.

At the core this is a romance about the relationship between Emma and Bridget in a sweet and satisfying way. Neither are perfect, both make mistakes, and the final grand gesture might have been a bit presumptuous of Bridget, but the sincerity and the love the shined through every word. I didn't want to let these characters go! This book is perfect for lovers of Meryl Wilsner's or Lee Winter's work.

Overall, it was an interesting read, but there were definitely some aspects that left me a bit conflicted. At the beginning, it was a bit slow. It took a while for the story to really grab my attention. However, around the 40% mark, things started to get more gripping, and that's when I felt more invested in the plot. Now, the side characters were really intriguing. They added a lot of depth and often caught my attention more than the MCs did. Speaking of the MCs, Emma and Bridget, I have some mixed feelings. I appreciate the complexity of their relationship. The tension was palpable, and the age-gap lesbian office romance was an interesting angle, but the chemistry between them felt a bit lacking. Their connection seemed to revolve mostly around physical intimacy, and I'd wanted more in terms of emotional depth. Bridget's treatment of Emma made me genuinely sad, and I was not really rooting for their relationship to succeed. The characters' behavior was a bit toxic and manipulative, which was a bit of a turn-off for me. One turning point that gave me hope was when Emma had a hookup with Tash. I was hoping that Emma would move on and find something healthier. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. In terms of the writing style, author did a good job of creating a messy, authentic atmosphere. All in all, I think the book had a great premise. If you're up for a messy, dramatic story, it's definitely be worth checking out.

This book had a lot of spice. I loved the flow it had throughout the story and following the love story. I was expecting a little more towards the end instead of the immediate jump. Overall it was a really good story.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this as an arc.

All opinions are my own.

DNF %10. For what I'm sure is a great story, I unfortunately cannot come to grips with fiction that is written in the first-person perspective. As a professional Aromantic reader who thrives on fictional romance while desiring absolutely none for myself, the use of "I" pronouns in the romance genre makes finishing some stories difficult for me and unfortunately, I was not able to complete this book. I will endeavor to do my due diligence in future to research titles for this aspect before settling down to read.

This was an enjoyable age gap (light) romance. I wish there was a little more romance/chemistry. The characters and plot were well developed.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Liz Rain for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Despite this being an age gap romance, it didn’t really feel like one! I imagined Bridget to look like Brie Larson in Fast X in her blue pant suit haha.

Overall, I enjoyed the story though and would recommend reading it!

An impressive debut. Strong groupof characters, impressive use of settings, humour when it's needed. the same with angst. My only problem was too much use of New Zealand-isms, which brought me to a halt a few times whilst I figured out what the author meant. A little explanation there would have helped. Still, roll on the second by this author.

I read the book fairly quickly, hoping it would improve, but overall I was disappointed with the romance aspect of the story. The side characters were awesome - caring and funny - but the romance made no sense in light of the main characters' actions. Emma's crush was realistic enough, but there were no clues as to why Bridget gets involved with her. It happened suddenly with no real connection between the two characters except that they were basically booty call buddies.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

not a whole lot of romance but a great book nonetheless.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I can officially say I enjoy Liz Rain’s writing style. I like that the characters can just be themselves without some big coming out.
I really loved Offside and while Perk of Office was good, it was comparable for me. The foundation of the relationship seemed a bit toxic and it was somewhat difficult for me to encourage the relationship. Despite this, I will read all Liz Rain books going forward