would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exceptional book

when mei told bette to go and enjoy herself for 3 month whilst they had a break from their relationship, bette was overwrought with grief... after all they were in love right.....

but bette thought process did a turn around and kept to the the bargain after all they were going to get back together so she set off on her quest....

the disasters that followed were unique for bette but she struck lucky in her friendship with ruth first time out who gave her some very good advice.... trouble was bette was a disaster at this flirting and dating... lucky us...

for a first time novel by this author i have to say it was a exceptional ride... i fell into all the characters and instantly was routing for bette to get better and loved the count down till she and mei got back together.... and though i could see where it was all heading it was a fun ride to follow along

looking forward to more books by this author

Bette is late to the lesbian dating scene, she realised what was wrong with her dating life when she fell for Mei but Mei thinks Bette is missing out on experience so proposes that Bette goes out with other women for 3 months to check what she feels is real. Bette is so unhappy she only wants Mei but she reluctantly agrees. So Bette apprehensively dives into the on line dating scene and starts a series of encounters. I felt for Bette in this story as she fumbles around the dating scene, interesting if a bit predictable.

I appreciate that I don't fall into the key demographic for this book, but I absolutely loved this book from start to end.
The characters are simply perfect and the story is a perfectly formed precious jewel. Superlatives just won't cover how amazing this book is and I really hope that this book is read and loved by as many people as possible.
I'm really grateful to the publisher for allowing me to read this early, as this is simply a beautiful love story story, told with a unique style and approach.

Wow. What a read! I’ve recommended this to my Bookclub and cannot wait to discuss it with them. Not my normal first choice but I’m so grateful for the arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A literary rom-com is something unusual but this worked well. Even if I felt that Beth was a bit forced to start searching. i liked Ruth and the well plotted characters.
Funny, well written, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I often wonder if some NetGalley books I request I do so blindly without even reading the blurb! Suffice to say this is not my normal genre but I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were all engaging and in the main likeable. The story centres around Bette who came out fairly late in life and her then girlfriend Mei. Mei decides they should have a break and Bette should have lots of flings to get out of her system what she would have done had she come out in her teens. What follows is a hilarious insight into dating in your thirties. Bette’s first “non” date is with Ruth who is looking for someone (with a capital S). Although there is obviously chemistry, they both appear to want completely different things. Ruth becomes Bette’s dating guru and they develop a lovely friendship. I was rooting for them the whole way through the book.

The book takes us through all manner or emotions, friendships, family issues but is a wonderful read and a real lesbian chic lit

Thank you to Netgalley and the tagged publisher for providing the advance reading copy (ARC).
The book Experienced delves into Bette's journey of self-discovery as she explores her sexuality and attraction to women. Initially in a happy relationship with Mei, Mei encourages Bette to further examine her feelings and date, other women, leading to a transformative exploration throughout the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in Bette's journey of self-exploration. The emphasis on friendship and community creates a pervasive sense of positivity throughout the book. While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the overall warmth and enjoyment garnered from the story more than compensate for this.

Publication Date: 6th June 2024

#selfdiscovery #friendship #positivity #bookreview #ARC #womenempowerment #novel #exploration #transformative #sexuality #experinced #netgalley

Experienced by Kate young was just what I needed coming out of a health crash, it is easy reading, funny in places, cheesy in others. I am still not converted to the formulaic nature of contemporary romance tropes but this queer wlw story set in Bristol was enjoyable and earnest with kind friendships and self discovery. One for your summer holiday suitcase.

I appear to alone in my opinion here but sadly I found this book of self discovery rather boring. I wad really excited at first, hoping to read some very funny dating experiences but there was zero humour at all. I understand a book cannot be full on funny and needs depth but the main character was so absolutely self obsessed I felt like I read an entire book of her talking to people about herself. Her friendships were very 1 way and she came across very self obsessed and entitled. There was no thought ever as to what any of her friends may be feeling or going through.
The 1 positive I will say is that I really did find it refreshing that when describing how beautiful the woman were, it was great to hear the words of dimpled thighs, roundness of stomachs etc, no supermodels in sight!

This was such a thrill to read - a heartwarming and witty sapphic romance that I read in a matter of days! I adored the representation and genuine characters. It was predictable but a fun read.

LGBT romance can often feel funnelled into one of two distinct modes: first, the pleasant pastel-colours queernorm world where two young people discover love; second, the hard-bitten ‘real world’ where love must battle violent discrimination, abusive families, and the hatred of strangers. Experienced finds a solid middle ground, not afraid to confront the realities of queer existence but never shying from queer joy either, punctuating Bette’s neuroticism with moments of simple happiness and startling heat.

Set primarily in Bristol, protagonist Bette is thriving, newly out, lucky in love, in an earth-shaking relationship with the wonderful Mei. At thirty, she’s got the rest of her life vaguely mapped out. She wants kids someday. Then Mei drops a bombshell: Bette’s so new to all this that maybe she wants to take some time on a break, to date other women, to have the wild adolescence she never got. Say three months? Bette is shocked. Heartsick. Lost. But if that’s what it takes to win back the love of her life…

The author’s debut novel (Kate Young is a food writer first!), this book is aware of the tropes it draws on but never feels beholden to them. Its characters feel faceted and realistic. Beyond the main character, Ruth especially stands out as layered and enthralling, as does Ash. Perhaps because of Young’s experience with cookbooks, the writing itself has a distinctive style, clear and readable with a consistent voice and economy of prose. Its pop culture references err just on the side of endearing rather than irritating, wearing its influences on its sleeve.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A light read, although it follows self-exploration. The focus on friendship and community helps a lot with the positive vibes throughout the book. A bit predictable, but very warm and enjoyable.

Arguably, there is very little that is different that an author can add to a romcom as it is such a well worn trope, but I enjoyed Ms Young's writing and spending time with her believable characters and I look forward to reading more by her
Thank you to netgalley and 4th Estate for an advance copy of this book

This was an easy, fun read about Bette and her first steps into the gay dating world after coming out at thirty. With realistic characters and situations, I enjoyed it!

Refreshing to have a book based in an area I’m familiar with. A charming little easy summertime read based in the city of Bristol. I can see this becoming popular over the summer.

This deserves nothing less than five stars and I need everyone to get this on your tbr right now!
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From the beginning I was hooked and by about 50-60% of the way through, I already knew I was giving this a full five stars. The writing is so addictive and I loved how natural everything felt, especially the dialogue. This was such an easy read, I was flying through the chapters and I reckon for faster readers than myself, this could easily be devoured in a day. As someone who isn't the hugest fan of romance novels (let's be real, a lot can be disgustingly cheesy), this was genuinely perfect for me. There was enough soppiness without being too much while also having a healthy dose of spice and heartbreak.
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The plot was somewhat predictable but I didn't care at all; I loved seeing how things would develop for Bette and I became so attached to her and every other character surrounding her. They were all so well written and fleshed out, it was hard to keep remembering they're just fictional people. I desperately didn't want this book to end as I got to the last few pages and now I'm wallowing and wanting more.
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This is such a perfectly queer romcom and I can't wait to see what else Kate Young brings out. Experienced is truly an experience like no other and I really hope this gets all the love it deserves this year!

I originally received this as a digital ARC but was also sent the physical proof which is what I read. Thank you to 4th Estate for my advanced copy!

I can see this becoming a really popular book but unfortunately it just didn't click with me. I was intrigues by the idea of the book but didn't like the way it was executed. I found the girlfriend at the start to be quite manipulative and taking advantage of the naive main character and i struggled to get into the book after that even though there was some really fun and lovable moments not to mentions Bette's journey of self discovery!!


Thanks to NetGalley and 4th estate publishers for the arc

I really enjoyed this book- I loved that the core romance was familiar and yet with a heavy queer influence to the whole story line it felt refreshing and different. I loved Bette's character, and Ruth's and Ash's too actually- the only person I really disliked was Mei! And clearly, that was for good reason. The setting of the story in Bristol and the going ab out of their every day lives, whilst trying to experiment with meeting other women was easy to read and light hearted without being silly. I loved the whole story and read it far too quickly!

What a romp of a novel, a great summer read that I would highly recommend to people in need of a summer holiday read, I think this will be a big hit, I can’t wait for everyone else to read it!!

A sweet, witty and bold exploration of romance, sex and power dynamics within relationships. I particularly loved how well drawn the emerging friendships and found family were.