This is a slow burn story. It was different from my usual read. However, I learned lot from reading this story. I even had to look up some stuff to get a better understanding.

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I didn’t hate it. The book felt like more of a guide to polyamorous relationships and less of an actual novel. Phoebe was the character that really got me to the end as her story was brilliantly written by someone who clearly understands young adults with additional needs. I could take or leave all of the other characters. An interesting book ….

This was different! I did enjoy it, but it dragged on a bit. It's a slow burn, but the characters are okay, and likable. I would have liked to hear more about polyamorous relationships tho.

All in all, it's okay, nice little storyline bit repetitive in parts.

3 out of 5*

I could swear this book was 1000 pages long. It seemed to go on and on. And go over and over the same subject without advancing. It took me forever to finish it. The ending didn't advance it much more than the halfway point. Rebecca and Alex are stuck in this "sharing" arrangement.

I read the synopsis way to fast and obviously skipped over the polyamorous content. Educationally it was interesting. I was not aware of this type of relationships. But as enjoyable reading material I found it difficult to imagine or understand.

The most interesting part for me was dealing with Pheobe in her new environment, the home for the mentally challenged. Although Pheobe seemed pretty normal to me, with the exception that her parents had sheltered her to the point of not teaching her how to be independent.

It was not an enjoyable read for me. I think reading a description of poly relationships would have been enough for me. An entire book....not so much.

The writing was good, the subject I had a problem with. I would try another story by this author.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca is a career at a Home for adults, she becomes the key carer for Phobe who wants to be independent. She also has a sister Alex who is looking out for Phobe. The plot is about poly relationships and how Rebecca can love 3 women. RAlex has relationship problems as does Rebecca. There is drama, love and caring involved. I recommend this book for poly romance readers.

I loved this book. But let's be clear. This is NOT your typical romance book. This is more women's fiction. If you're going into this looking for typical romance, this is not it.

Personally, I think that's a wonderful thing. There are so many issues touched on in this book, some that are dealt with and some that are not. Health care, especially long-term health care and living arrangements for people who are challenged (physically, mentally, or otherwise) is front and center in this story. While this story seems to be marketed as a romance between Rebecca and Alex, that is only a small part of this story.

The poly representation here was very interesting and informative. Other than being another catalyst for tension though, the poly relationships (on all sides) felt to me like a way to move the plot forward and to teach the reader about the poly culture. That's not a bad thing, necessarily, but that was my interpretation.

The star of this show was Phoebe, Alex's sister (and Rebecca's charge). I enjoyed the relationship between Alex and Rebecca, but it was not a big part of the story until the end, and even then, Phoebe stole the show for me.

All that said, I really enjoyed this book, and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. I love women's fiction, different types of romance, and this was a treat for me! If you're looking for something different and enjoy women's fiction, I hope you check this one out!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Very sweet

Alex has moved to the middle of nowhere to support her sister Phoebe, who has been placed into a care home. Determined her sister should be allowed the independence she wants, Alex clashes with Rebecca, who has been assigned as her carer, until they realise they have something in common.

A really sweet story about loyalty, kindness, a being open to possibility, change and trust. The story packed in so much of importance and is great for representation of poly relationships. I was most intrigued by how Alex and Rebecca would deal with things once they learned they had similar preferences and Alex learned that Rebecca was only trying to do what was best for Phoebe. Rebecca was actually willing to take risks to fulfil the needs Phoebe expressed, as she did so selflessly putting her career and personal preferences on the line.

It was so obvious Rebecca and Alex could have a connection though. It was Alex’s stubbornness that really caused all the tension, and I willed her, every meeting and chance she had with Rebecca to get over it and just relax. When we learned about hers and Phoebe’s background, it became clearer why she was having such an adverse reaction. They’d encountered a lot of trauma and weren’t even passed it. That can put someone on edge, and Kit portrayed that perfectly with Alex, Phoebe, and even to a point in Rebecca’s story too.

Really enjoyable story, that was moving and heartfelt at every point.

I really really really wanted to love this book. I connected with it off the bat. I am a queer woman, a social worker who works with the developmentally disabled population. I could visualize Phoebe coming to life with her colorful personality. The other characters fell a bit flat for me. It took 2/3 of the book to really get into the romantic relationship between Alex and Rebecca. The first 2/3 could have built that up a lot more, but it fell flat for me. It felt like they went from some mild flirting and interest to BAM LETS GIVE THIS A TRY. I would have liked to see some more attention to their development vs some of the other background characters and storylines. I could tell the author is very well versed in the subject of care homes and advocating for self-determination and independence of folks with learning and developmental disabilities and that definitely came through.

"An Independent Woman" is a masterfully crafted story that dives deep into the intricate dynamics of relationships and the complex decisions we make for our chosen families. With a backdrop of polyamory and the challenges of caring for adults with learning disabilities, the story follows Rebecca and Alex as the main characters on a journey of growth, understanding, and attraction.

The characters come to life through the author's wonderful storytelling, creating a narrative that is more about personal development and connection than just a simple romance. The clashes between Alex and Rebecca, stemming from their differing opinions on what's best for Phoebe, provide a realistic portrayal of the hurdles faced in relationships. The novel delves into the nuances of polyamorous relationships, showcasing their diversity and working mechanisms.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of real-life complexities. The narrative skillfully weaves the experiences of people with special needs, highlighting the attention and support they require, while also showcasing the friends and family who stand by them. The depth and authenticity with which the characters navigate through life's challenges and transformations are truly remarkable.

The author's ability to intertwine a blossoming romance with the characters' personal growth is nothing short of brilliant. The story's complexity is elegantly portrayed, leaving readers captivated by the connections being forged and the lessons being learned. "An Independent Woman" is not just a romance; it's an emotional journey that beautifully captures the beauty and struggle of human relationships.

I chose to read this book primarily because of the poly representation. I don’t know much about that type of relationship and was hoping to learn more. I did learn some things through the story, but it was also confusing to me at points.

The personality of the character Alex did a 180 out of nowhere for me. She was initially very hostile to her sister living in independent care and extremely mistrustful of Rebecca. She changed completely in the middle of the book to 100% supporting her sister and suddenly being open to Rebecca. I didn’t feel like the story adequately made that change and it just happened because.

I didn’t understand why Alex’s backstory was told until the end of the book. It would have been nice to get glimpses of it throughout the story to help explain why she is not a likable character for the first half of the novel. Her story felt rushed and tacked on at the end for me.

I was also confused because Rebecca’s partners played a huge role at the start of the book, but then almost totally disappeared until the end of the book. I know the story was about Alex and Rebecca, but I would’ve been interested in the partners’ viewpoints throughout the book.

I’m still not sure how Phoebe and Alex’s parents fit the story. They weren’t a positive influence in their daughter’s lives and hostile characters at the start of the book. They then suddenly became involved and wanted Phoebe back home with them for some reason. It just wasn’t clear to me how this fit in the story.

The book was well written, however, and provided an insight into poly relationships that I had not seen before. I was also extremely thrilled with how adults who have intellectual/developmental disabilities were portrayed as real people. They are adults in every sense of the word and should be treated as such.

Overall, this wasn’t the best book for me. I think part of it was the fact I don’t understand how poly relationships work. It was hard to understand some of the characters and their dynamics with others due to my ignorance. I think that’s ultimately what kept me from connecting with the book more. That’s not on the author, however, and I would be interested to read more of their works.

When I read the blurb of this book I've got really intrigued because I have never read a polyamorous romance before and I wasn't sure how I would feel. I am open minded person but I am not poly so I guess the biggest issue for me it's that I couldn't relate to the characters. I couldn't understand Rebecca at all and I didn't buy her love with Alex and how their relationship developed. Alex's sister part about Phoebe is the best of the book.

What an interesting read. One of several reasons I read is to learn. And learn I did. I knew poly relationships existed but I did not know the variety or the language. I am pleased I took the plunge.

Alex Jenning, devoted to her sister Phoebe as they both work toward a sense of self, confidence and independence. Rebecca Miller, devoted key worker enjoying life but not really fulfilled. Rebecca works at a care facility helping individuals prepare to live independently. When Rebecca and Alex meet there is tension as well as attraction. The tension is related to the needs of Phoebe and the attraction causes challenges. As the story unfolds, the reader is pulled toward Phoebe and what she wants and needs. Though this read is not your typical lesbian romance, it does provide an interesting setting and a cast of characters that make you think and in my opinion, that is a good thing.

( 3.5 Stars) A different kind of romance novel. Rebecca Miller is a key worker at a care center. The story is British and I’m guessing that is similar to a social worker or specialized nurse. She works at a care center and her job is helping prepare her charges with life skills for independent living as well as helping manage health issues. She is happy in her polyamorous chosen family. Alex Jenning’s arrives in town to help settle her sister Phoebe into the care center. Alex wants her sister to be independent but doesn’t trust the system to look after her needs. There is attraction with caution between Rebecca and Alex. Alex has her own poly partner who travels much of the year.

The book is slow burn and takes place over many months. Much of the story focuses on Phoebe and I’d categorize this as women’s fiction with a romance. I confess to being less familiar with terms and the complexity of poly relationships. The book introduced me to different ways a chosen family can work. I applaud the representation but it was hard to connect to the characters. The background for the MCs is intentionally kept minimal. I don't know their ages, education or past family relationships. It was different to read about calendaring to make time together and trying to keep things transparent in a relationship. For me this book fell into an informative novel more than enjoying the romantic relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

This was a different book. I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it either. I definitely learned a lot of new terminology.

3/5

This was an interesting book. I’m not familiar with poly terminology and had to look things up. I didn’t know there were different approaches to poly line hierarchies or solo, so this was an educational read. The two main characters had chemistry despite their differences both in relation to Phoebe’s care and relationship styles, and it was great to see them trust one another and overcome these over time. The pacing of the romantic storyline potentially could have been improved - it took a long time for anything to happen and then everything seemed to happen at once. Overall though it was a well written book from a debut author.